Portugal vs Israel Predictions

• Portugal have scored 30 goals in their last 13 home games.
• Portugal have won their last three final pre-tournament preparation games 7-0, 3-0 and 3-0.
• Diogo Jota has scored six goals in his last six starts for Portugal.

Santos seeks spectacular send-off for Euro champs

Portugal have had an extra 12 months to enjoy their status as European champions but their defence finally begins next week against Hungary.

It is the fourth time that Fernando Santos has taken his team into a summer tournament and they have had a similar build-up on each occasion, playing a tough opponent in their second-last warm-up and an easier foe in the final preparation game.

Santos selected his strongest possible line-up for their final pre-World Cup friendly against Algeria in 2018 and saw his team run out 3-0 winners – the same scoreline they had beaten Latvia by prior to the 2017 Confederations Cup.

And in their final tune up game prior to Euro 2016, Portugal thrashed Estonia 7-0 so we think Santos will be looking for a similarly comprehensive victory this time around.

Israel may lack the nous to avoid suffering a similar fate as coach Willi Ruttensteiner has selected a youthful squad designed to give some up-and-coming stars more experience ahead of a World Cup qualifying campaign that begins in September.

Ruttensteiner’s team dominated a depleted Montenegro to win 3-1 at the weekend, but are unlikely to have even half as much possession against the sophisticated hosts.

Portugal’s only home defeat in the last three years was inflicted on them by the world champions and that loss to France was only the third time in their last 19 at home that they had failed to score.

Portugal’s average margin of victory is almost two goals per game across their last 13 home fixtures, during which time they have hit the net 30 times.

Diogo Jota is a man in form for them with six goals in his last six starts after a Premier League season in which he bagged nine in 12 starts for Liverpool.

We can foresee the Anfield idol hitting the target here in a victory that should be in the region of 3-0 and will take Portugal -2 as our main selection on the three-way handicap.