Portugal will be looking to overtake Serbia in top position of Group A of the EUFA World Cup Qualifiers when they visit Aviva Stadium in Dublin to take on the Republic of Ireland on Thursday with kickoff at 22:45.
Following a slow start to their World Cup qualifiers Republic of Ireland have finally started to get results but it’s too late to salvage their World Cup qualifying bid and for them this clash will be just to regain their pride.
The hosts opened the qualifying campaign with three consecutive defeats at the hands of Serbia, Luxembourg and Portugal then picked up two draws against Azerbaijan and Serbia before registering their first win of the campaign against Azerbaijan a game that ended 3-0 for the Boys in Green.
Stephen Kenny’s side now occupy the fourth spot with five points, 11 points from the playoff spot and 12 points from the automatic qualifying spot and with only two games remaining to go means Ireland cannot qualify for the World Cup no matter what transpires in the remaining matches.
Meanwhile this match has more meaning for the Portuguese who are scrapping with the Serbs to secure the top spot and an automatic qualification for the World Cup. However, Serbia have played a game more and are just a point above Portugal and hence Fernando Santos’ side will go all guns blazing in this match as a win will put them two points above Serbia with only a match to go.
Portugal have won five and drawn one of their six-Group A fixtures so far to collect 16 points that have left them in the second place and head into the match in a good form having won all their last five matches across all competitions picking three clean sheets in the run including the 5-0 win over Luxemburg in their last qualifying match. Therefore, Portugal will fancy their chances in this match considering their good form and strong squad.
Ireland vs Portugal head to head
Both sides have met in five encounters since 1995 with Portugal claiming three victories while Ireland have claimed two victories and are yet to record any draws.
- Portugal 2-1 Ireland 01/09/21
- Portugal 5-1 Ireland 11/06/14
- Ireland 1-0 Portugal 09/02/05
- Portugal 3-0 Ireland 15/11/95
- Ireland 1-0 Portugal 26/04/95
Home
- Ireland 4-0 Qatar
- Azerbaijan 0-3 Ireland
- Ireland 1-1 Serbia
- Ireland 1-1 Azerbaijan
- Portugal 2-1 Ireland
Away
- Portugal 5-0 Luxemburg
- Portugal 3-0 Qatar
- Azerbaijan 0-3 Portugal
- Qatar 1-3 Portugal
- Portugal 2-1 Ireland
Ireland team news
Ireland have named a 26-man squad with Callum O’Dowda called up to replace the injured James Collins.
Portugal team news
Portugal have also named a 26-man squad including Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Jota while Joao Felix has been left out.
Prediction and odds
- Portugal win
- Goals over 2.5
- Both sides to score (No)
