Portugal Vs. Sweden Live Stream: Cristiano Ronaldo And Portugal Hope To Gain Early Advantage Against Zlatan Ibrahimovic And Sweden

With the playoff round of World Cup Qualifying underway, multiple teams across the international spectrum of soccer hope they're able to do enough on the pitch in order to secure one of the remaining spots in next summer's event. Uruguay used a five-goal performance to gain the advantage over Jordan in their two-legged playoff while Mexico - under the direction of new head coach Miguel Herrera - blew past New Zealand in the first leg of the CONCACAF/OFC playoff. Another series of playoff matches are set to begin in the UEFA Grouping of World Cup qualifying, with the headline series coming between Portugal and Sweden.

In a match-up that certainly will not fail to disappoint, both Portugal and Sweden will look to advance through to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil after failing to do enough during the qualifying stages. While the back and forth action will undoubtedly leave all fans intrigued, the fact that two of the top players in the world will be going at it for the next two games only adds to the intensity and magnitude of this UEFA match since an occasion like this on a tremendous stage doesn't always take place.

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo is widely regarded as one of the top two players in the sport - with Barcelona's Leo Messi considered the game's best - and as CR7 prepares to lead his Portuguese squad, the star scorer knows the challenge of taking down a Sweden team led by the ever-dangerous Zlatan Ibrahimovic won't be easy. Though Ronaldo is certainly dangerous by himself, Sweden head coach Erik Hamren knows his team has a chance against the favored Portuguese because they too possess one of the world's best talents.

"All the players are ready and we're looking forward to the game tomorrow," Hamren said. "Portugal are favorites. They are favorites because of their ranking. They are the highest-ranked team in the play-offs and, in my opinion, they are world class when they play at a really high level. There's lots of light on Zlatan. He's a world-class player and our captain. But I don't think it's too much for him. He's so used to that so it's not a problem for him. It's a fight between two world-class players but we need the team as a whole to be good. Zlatan needs that support. If we are playing well as a team then he can be the match-winner."

Absent from Portugal's most recent practice session ahead of the Sweden match to gain rest, Cristiano Ronaldo will be full go for the first leg. Recording 27 goals in 19 matches for his native team, those close with the international squad expect him to be in the starting rotation when Portugal hosts Sweden at the Estadio Da Luz.

"It was just a precautionary measure that he rested for a couple of days after picking up a slight knock with Real Madrid," a source close to the team told Daily Mail. "He will be eased back in, as the squad step up their preparations, and he will be in the starting line-up. There is nothing more certain."

Portugal vs. Sweden - First Leg: DATE, TIME & TV INFO

DATE: Friday, November 15

TIME: 2:30pm, ET

TV COVERAGE: ESPN Deportes

LIVE STREAM: CLICK HERE or CLICK HERE