(Reuters) – Portugal play Ghana in the World Cup in Doha on Thursday.
When: Thursday Nov. 24, 1900 local (1600 GMT/1100 ET)
Where: Stadium 974
Capacity: 40,000
Odds:
Portugal win: 4/11
Ghana win: 17/5
Draw: 17/2
Key stats:
* Portugal’s best World Cup finish was third in 1966. They have qualified for the previous five tournaments in a row, reaching the knockout rounds on three occasions (2006, 2010 & 2018).
* Ghana are appearing at a fourth World Cup finals having qualified three times in succession between 2006 and 2014, but missed out in Russia four years ago. They have reached the knockout rounds twice, with a quarter-final finish in 2010 their best result.
* Portugal have met African opposition five times before at the World Cup, recording three wins, a draw and a 3-1 loss to Morocco in 1986.
* Ghana were within a late Asamoah Gyan penalty of being the first African nation to reach the semi-finals in 2010, but the striker missed from the spot against Uruguay and the Black Stars then lost in a shootout.
Previous meetings:
The only previous clash between Portugal and Ghana was at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where a John Boye own goal and Cristiano Ronaldo strike helped the European side to a 2-1 victory in the group stage.
(Reporting by Nick Said; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
