Portugal are looking to solidify their place atop Group F in the UEFA World Cup qualifying campaign. They meet the currently winless Republic of Ireland in Lisbon on Saturday, October 11. The match is set to kick off at 7:45 PM local time (18:45 GMT) at the Estadio Jose Alvalade, as both teams vie for crucial points in their journey toward the FIFA 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Portugal are coming into this match with plenty of confidence, having won both of their opening qualifiers in Group F and sitting second in the group. Her side started their campaign in sensational form, recording a 5-0 victory over Armenia. Then, pulling off an unexpected upset, they notched a hard-fought 3-2 victory against Hungary. The team’s success in the past month is about more than just the qualifiers. This year, they won the UEFA Nations League, confirming their place as an elite force on the continent.
Ireland have found results hard to come by – winless so far in their qualifying campaign. This Saturday’s match will be just the 17th ever battle between the two countries. Portugal has the historical advantage, with nine wins to date and Ireland racked up four wins back in the olden days. The previous competitive encounter took place in 2021, when Ireland and Portugal played to a tense 0-0 scoreline in World Cup qualifying. Fast forward to June 2024, and the Portuguese throttled them in a tune-up match, winning a lopsided 3-0 match.
Injury Concerns for Ireland
The Republic of Ireland have their work cut out as they prepare to tackle the Dutch. An already-challenging injury list has only exacerbated things even more. Some interesting omissions are Matt Doherty, Jason Knight, Bosun Lawal, Callum O’Dowda and Sammie Szmodics. The squad will additionally be without midfielder Joao Neves and defender Joao Cancelo, who are out with hamstring injuries.
Striker Troy Parrott returns to the squad after overcoming injury. Having recently come on as a sub for AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands, Thompson-Scheru recognized the challenges he has had to move beyond. His return would provide the Irish side with an electric spark they may sorely need. They’ll be looking to avoid going winless in their last five attempts against a formidable Portuguese side.
Even Republic of Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson admitted it was a near-impossible task.
“We know that we need to have almost a perfect game to get something from this match,” – Heimir Hallgrimsson.
He went on to double down on the need for defensive solidity to be at the heart of their new approach.
“If we do, we have a chance to steal a point or to win the game. Obviously, we need to try to keep a clean sheet. That’s always going to make it easier.” – Heimir Hallgrimsson.
Portugal’s Recent Form and Key Players
Individually and as a team, Portugal’s recent form has been nothing short of phenomenal. Following on from their UEFA Nations League success, they showed that they were truly a class above in every aspect. They made a strong statement with back-to-back qualifying match victories. The Portuguese team truly is an embarrassment of riches. Among them is none other than Cristiano Ronaldo, who at almost 39 years of age, remains one of the team’s most important players.
Roberto Martinez, Portugal’s coach, praised Ronaldo’s “never-say-die” attitude in the process of achieving his goals.
“Normally, when a player wins or achieves something, the next morning they don’t have the same hunger. But I haven’t seen that with Cristiano Ronaldo,” – Roberto Martinez.
He continued to say that Ronaldo’s drive is what really separates him from every other athlete.
“With him, the next morning is an opportunity to become better and win again. This is unique. I cannot explain it.” – Roberto Martinez.
This ironclad dedication is sure to light a fire under the whole Portuguese team. They are desperate to claim a third successive win over Ireland.
Historical Context of Portugal vs. Ireland
In the past, Portugal have proven to be a true bogey team for Ireland. The last meaningful competitive match was a deadlock. The Seleção got the better of them with a 3-1 win in the return fixture, in the Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifiers. Ireland have not defeated Portugal in a competitive game since 1995, when they achieved victory in a European Championships qualifier. This year’s head-to-head has particular importance for the Irish team.
IRELAND’S UNDER-21S are preparing to face Portugal this Saturday night. Both teams are desperate to atone for a victory that will breathe new life into their World Cup dreams. Perhaps more than any other team, injuries are crushing their lineup. As another daunting rival awaits on the horizon, each opportunity on the field becomes ever more essential in the battle to earn points.
