Portugal coach Fernando Santos has been boosted by news that key midfielder Otavio should be fully fit and ready to play in their World Cup last-16 match against Switzerland on Tuesday.

After missing the last two games with a thigh injury, the Porto midfielder will join his team mates for training on Sunday for the first time since their opening win over Ghana.

Centre half Danilo Pereira, who sustained three broken ribs last week, is also recovering well and could feature later in the tournament.

His replacement in the last two matches was 39-year-old defender Pepe, who is likely to keep his place and be tasked with marking Swiss striker Breel Embolo, who has scored twice in the tournament.

Santos was forced into a change at left back after Nuno Mendes was ruled out of the World Cup due to an injury suffered in the first half against Uruguay.

Santos switched Joao Cancelo to the left and brought in Diogo Dalot at right back and the coach is expected to keep the same formation against Switzerland.

Captain Cristiano Ronaldo will bid again to equal the record of World Cup goals scored for Portugal held by Eusebio, who racked up nine in 1966 in England.

Switzerland have their own forward seeking a place in the record books.

Xherdan Shaqiri believes Switzerland have all the tools they need to make it to the World Cup quarter-finals, but they will need to work together if they are to beat Portugal.

Shaqiri's goal against Serbia in the group stage meant he has found the net in more World Cup tournaments than any other Swiss player, having also scored in 2014 and 2018.

"As a team, we are always successful and this is gonna be also in this game the same. Everybody (has to) stick together. If everybody goes to the highest level of their performance, then I'm sure we have a chance to go through," he said.

He is one goal away from matching the most World Cup goals scored by a Switzerland player - six, by Sepp Huegi all in 1954.

When?

01:00 am, 7th December, Wednesday

Where?

Lusail Stadium, Lusail, Qatar

Head-to-head

Matches 25

Portugal 9

Switzerland 11

Draw 5

Probable lineups

Portugal: (4-3-1-2) Costa (GK), Dalot, Pepe, Dias, Cancelo, B. Silva, Neves, Carvalho, Fernandes, Felix, Ronaldo

Switzerland: (4-2-3-1) Sommer (GK), Widmer, Akanji, Schar, Rodriguez; Freuler, Xhaka, Shaqiri, Sow, Vargas, Embolo

Key stats

* Portugal won their first two World Cup group games, defeating Ghana 3-2 and Uruguay 2-0, but lost 2-1 to South Korea as coach Fernando Santos made six changes to his already-qualified team.

* Switzerland beat Cameroon 1-0 and Serbia 3-2 but in between lost 1-0 to Brazil.

* Portugal, winners of Euro 2016, have had little impact on World Cups, going out in the first knockout round in 2018 and 2010, and even failing to get out of the group stage in 2014 and 2002. In 2006, Portugal got as far as the semi-final.

* Switzerland reached the knock-out stage in three of the last four World Cups but have not got to the quarter-final since 1954.

* Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo needs one more goal to equal the Portuguese record for most World Cup goals held by Eusebio who racked up nine in 1966 in England, the only World Cup tournament he played in.

* Xherdan Shaqiri's goal against Serbia in the group stage meant he has found the net in more World Cup tournaments than any other Swiss player, having also scored in 2014 and 2018.

* Shaqiri is one goal away from matching the most World Cup goals scored by a Switzerland player - six, by Sepp Huegi, all of them in 1954.

Previous meetings:

In 25 occasions before Tuesday's match, Switzerland won 11 times, Portugal nine and five matches ended in draws. In the Nations League in June, Portugal won 4-1 in Lisbon while Switzerland won 1-0 in Geneva.