The biggest disparity in the FIFA Rankings in any of the first set of games, sees ninth-ranked Portugal face 61st-ranked Ghana, who are the lowest-ranked team among the 32 qualifiers. Portugal won the 2014 World Cup game 2-1 in their only previous meeting with the Black Stars. Injuries have cost Portugal the services of Wolves’ players past and present, Diogo Jota and Pedro Neto, and 39-year-old defender Pepe is recovering from an injury. Ghana, meanwhile, looks to have a clean bill of health.

The Seleção’s recent form has been mixed, beating the Czech Republic home and away by a combined score of 6-0, but beaten in Switzerland and denied top spot in their Nations League group by neighbours Spain. Ghana arranged a recent friendly against Brazil — who are somewhat similar in style to Portugal — which ended in a 3-0 defeat. The odds suggest something similar could be on the cards here.