The final countdown to UEFA Euro 2024 has officially begun as we approach a string of highly anticipated international friendlies. Some of the nations that are playing this week are heading for the big tournament and others aren’t, but either way, it’s important for all of them to try and build some momentum. Today, we’ll be taking a look at the impending clash between Portugal and Ireland.
Portugal Form GuidePortugal managed to shock a lot of people by becoming European champions back in 2016. Unfortunately, they haven’t quite been able to build on that - but things are looking good right now. This is arguably the best golden generation they’ve had since Cristiano Ronaldo first rose to prominence two decades ago, and now is the chance to seize their opportunity, especially given their goalscoring prowess.
One word to describe Portugal’s qualifying campaign? Impeccable. They won all ten of their qualifiers, scored 36 goals, and conceded just twice. They were easily one of the most impressive sides in qualifying and that’ll give them a great deal of confidence.
Ireland Form GuideIreland is a proud nation across all sporting fronts and that much is obvious. They have been to the top of the mountain in so many different practices but within the realm of football, it still seems as if there’s work to be done. They need to restore that national pride within the squad itself and from there, trust in bright youngsters that are actually willing to give their heart and soul to the badge.
Ireland had a campaign to forget in qualifying and that’s us putting it lightly. They managed just two wins in their group to go alongside six defeats, and in reality, they never came close to qualifying. It’s a shame, too, given how they’ve performed in general across the last decade or so.
Match PredictionIn a game like this, the whole point is to do everything in your power to make an impact - but at the same time, there are far more important matches that lie ahead. At the same time, we do expect it to be an entertaining game with plenty of chances, which is why we’re still going to back over 2.5 goals scored.
