Preparations for Euro 2024 are drawing to a close for Portugal as they host the Republic of Ireland in their final friendly game before they depart for Germany.
Date: 11/06/24
Kick-off time: 19:45
Venue: Estadio Municipal de Aveiro
Roberto Martinez’ Portugal side will look to improve on the Round of 16 exit in Euro 2020. Cristiano Ronaldo will be playing in his sixth and potentially final Euros tournament, so he will be desperate to go deep into the competition and win it for a second time. They have plenty of talent across the squad, and have one of the most balanced teams. They qualified for this summer’s Euros by finishing top of their group with 10 wins from 10.
Republic of Ireland missed out on Euros qualification after finishing fourth out of five in their group. Only minnows Gibraltar, who ended on zero points, finished below them. From eight games, they picked up just six points, as they lost four of the last five games. This marks a second European Championship tournament in which Republic of Ireland will not participate, with their last appearance coming in 2016, when they were knocked out by France in the Round of 16.
Ronaldo will be the team’s main attacking threat, and he will be looking to build on a 35-goal season. There are a lot of other attackers who will be of notice for opposition defences, including the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Rafael Leao and Goncalo Ramos, who scored four goals and provided three assists at the last World Cup. Through the last international break, Republic of Ireland conceded just three goals in their last five games, so Portugal may not have as straightforward a night as expected.
These two countries have met just 15 times before, with Portugal enjoying more success with eight wins to Ireland’s four. Ireland are winless in three meetings, with their last victory coming in an international friendly in 2005. The last time they played was in World Cup qualifying in 2021. The game ended in a 0-0 draw.
