Spain, Portugal and Switzerland Open World Cup Round of 32 on July 2

Q: With giants like Germany already out, which favored nation among Spain or Portugal is most vulnerable to a shocking upset today?

Portugal is the more vulnerable favorite. Spain arrive with the stronger profile: they topped Group H unbeaten, did not concede a goal, and have looked like one of the tournament’s most balanced teams. Their defense has been the best in the field so far, and analysts rate them as a relatively safe pick to advance. Austria are capable and resilient, but they do not bring the same knockout pedigree or overall threat level as Croatia. Portugal, by contrast, face a far trickier Round of 32 test. Croatia have recent World Cup pedigree as 2018 runners-up and 2022 semifinalists, and they are widely viewed as a dangerous knockout opponent because of their experience, game management and comfort in tight matches. Portugal were unbeaten in the group stage, but their form has been less convincing, with draws and stretches where they struggled to control games or create enough against organized opponents. The concern is not just the opponent, but Portugal’s own volatility. Outside Cristiano Ronaldo’s goals, their attack has not always looked fluid, and there have been warning signs defensively against stronger sides. Several projections and expert previews put Portugal’s win probability notably below Spain’s and described Portugal-Croatia as one of the day’s most unpredictable matchups. Spain can still be tested by Austria’s energy and directness, especially in a one-off knockout game. But if one favored nation is most exposed to a genuine upset today, it is Portugal.

3 articles · Updated · FOX Sports · Jul 1

Three Round of 32 matches headline World Cup Day 22 on July 2: Spain vs. Austria at 3 p.m. ET, Portugal vs. Croatia at 7 p.m., and Switzerland vs. Algeria at 11 p.m.
Spain enters Los Angeles as Group H winner without conceding a goal in three matches, while Austria reached the knockouts after finishing runner-up in Group J and drawing Algeria 3-3.
Portugal meets Croatia in Toronto with Cristiano Ronaldo carrying 2 tournament goals; Portugal was unbeaten in Group K, while Croatia recovered from a 4-2 loss to England with wins over Panama and Ghana.
Switzerland, which scored 7 goals in topping Group B, faces Algeria in Vancouver after Algeria advanced as a best third-place finisher despite a 3-0 loss to Argentina.
All three games air on FOX or FS1, with live and on-demand streaming available on FOX One.