Could URUGUAY vs PORTUGAL be the dIRTIEST game in World Cup history?

The World Cup has seen a number of fierce encounters down the years from the 'Battle of Santiago' in 1962 to the violent game between Portugal and Holland in 2006.

Uruguay and Portugal will come to blows for a place in the quarter-finals of Russia 2018 on Saturday night and more cynical antics are expected.

With some of the game's most controversial players set to take to the pitch, including Luis Suarez and Pepe, are we set for another game marred by foul play?

Portugal have a history of on-field indiscipline. They were embroiled in the 'Battle of Nuremberg' where tempers spilled over in their round of 16 tie with Holland at Germany 2006.

Russian referee Valentin Ivanov issued a World Cup record four red cards and 16 yellows, setting a new high for an international tournament overseen by FIFA.

In the early stages of that game, Dutch defender Khalid Boulahrouz was booked for a foul that forced Ronaldo to come off before half-time in tears. The Portuguese star has since described the tackle as 'clearly an intentional foul to get me injured.'

Ronaldo may be worried about what may come his way on Saturday night.

Sure to be stalking him around the pitch will be the ice cold Diego Godin. Uruguay were the only team to qualify from the group stages without conceding a goal and Godin has been a crucial part of their impenetrability.

At 32 years old, the Atletico Madrid enforcer continues to show why he is considered one of the world's best at shutting opponents down. With 27 meetings against Ronaldo in the fiery Madrid derby, Godin knows how to shackle the evergreen forward.

Godin has committed just three fouls in the tournament so far while Ronaldo has been brought down 13 times. The defender is willing to win by any means necessary though and Ronaldo will surely be exposed to underhand tricks.

Ronaldo against Godin has seen both sides come out on top in recent meetings. The forward has scored 22 goals in 31 derby matches but Godin has also enjoyed success, preventing him from finding the net in 13 of their last 20 meetings.

They also have history of on field spats. Ronaldo once punched Godin during a Spanish Super Cup game before the defender got his own back in 2017 by elbowing the Portuguese in the head.

he battle at the other end of the pitch will be just as engaging. Pepe is a master of the dark arts. Whether it's booting his opponents into submission or going to ground under the merest hint of a challenge, he has what it takes to get under the skin of his opponents and his fans.

The former Real man has shown in the past his penchant for underhand tactics know no bounds, and he proved it yet again during Portugal's 1-0 win over Morocco when he threw himself theatrically to the ground following a playful back-slap from Mehdi Benatia.

This is probably Suarez's final chance at World Cup glory. It represents a chance to depart the international scene with his head held high following that costly misdemeanour against Italy four years ago.

Suarez is never far from controversy but his exploits in Russia have remained above board so far and he will want to keep it that way. He was sent home from the last World Cup in shame after his bite on Giorgio Chiellini, but now has a sense of calm after four relatively tranquil years in Barcelona.

Pepe, like Godin, has been penalised three times in the tournament so far. Suarez, meanwhile, has attracted an illegal challenge on six occasions and you can surely expect that to rise in what should be a war of attrition.

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