Republic of Ireland v Portugal - Thursday, 13th November - 2026 World Cup Qualifier

[tetsujin1979]

Has Irish team been named?1989034275128443178

[rebelmusic]

We're in miracle-required territory. We need a win tonight to be honest. Beating Hungary by two is the least likely of options.

Interesting to see what's he's planning with Collins

[elatedscum]

traffic mental for anyone heading out tonight. don't like the team. i'd have gone 5-3-2 with Ebosele replacing Scales and either that midfield 3 or McGrath replacing either Taylor or Azaz who were both poor recently for Ireland and Idah and Parrott up top (Idah instead of Ogbene)

I think the having Scales and Coleman as your two wing backs is just going to invite them on to us and gives us no means for breaking or getting out. Parrott's relatively lack of pace means he's the worst of the three in total isolation. As for Chio, I'm still not convinced that he's fully ok after that injury.

[Fixer82]

The Portuguese warm-up tops are so much nicer than ours.

We need Puma to take over from Castore. Then we might improve

[pineapple stu]

We're in miracle-required territory. We need a win tonight to be honest. Beating Hungary by two is the least likely of options.
I think we can conclude we will almost certainly lose one of the games, which means we're out.

But look, let's see what happens. That bench looks dreadful if we need to change it around

[Crosby87]

Azaz could've done better

[pineapple stu]

Hello!

Parrott's been excellent so far. Really deserves that

[osarusan]

Well now.

Something to motivate a backs-to-the-wall night of heroics.

[SkStu]

Beautifully executed set piece from start to finish.

[sbgawa]

Too early :)

[rebelmusic]

Ronnie Whelan is the first person I hope gets replaced by AI

[Crosby87]

Felix is all over.

Weak card for Azaz

[passinginterest]

Too early :)

My wife even said “oh no there’s so long left this will be painful”.

Some good stuff.

Was about to say that second is badly needed!

[pineapple stu]

What the **** is going on here?!

[SkStu]

Wow!!

[osarusan]

Jaysus.

[rebelmusic]

Imagine if we had Parrot for the first two games..best first half performance in 20 years

[SkStu]

Safe to give O’Toole a run out here, you’d think.

[passinginterest]

Troy Parrot really fulfilling that potential now. His work rate and quality on the ball has been top class. He’s showing genuine leadership too. At one stage he had a little pass with Scales and you could clearly see him directing the pass back down the line and then was directing the next few plays.

Chieo showing how effective he can be now that his fitness and touch are coming back too. It was a super effort that came off the post.

Cullen deserves praise and Azaz has had some good moments, although some frustrating ones too. Taylor quietly effective.

Apart from a couple of panicky moments the lads at the back have been solid and found some good out balls. Coleman and Scales doing enough getting forward and keeping the ball. Coleman, in fairness, has really brought his energy and leadership back to the team.

[sbgawa]

Im just beaten down but all i can think now is qe habent a prayer of winning sunday..........but i thought that about tonight,........its the hope that kills u

[The Fly]

Our father, who art in heaven…

[Crosby87]

RyanAir just added a Saturday morning flight to Budapest. Don't jinx it Lads

[rebelmusic]

4-0 and a draw will do us on Sunday!!

Since this apparently is opposite day I'm open to anything

[Crosby87]

Since this apparently is opposite day I'm open to anything

Yes we've heard!

[pineapple stu]

Troy Parrot really fulfilling that potential now. His work rate and quality on the ball has been top class. He’s showing genuine leadership too.
He really is. I thought Kingdom and ifk had a fair point saying that Idah was better for this game. But e can safely end any notion Parrott isn't up to leading the line on his own now

[Crosby87]

On the heels here

[samhaydenjr]

4-0 and a draw will do us on Sunday!!

Since this apparently is opposite day I'm open to anything

Alas, it will still leave us needing a win. A win still leaves us a point behind Hungary.

[Crosby87]

Kick CR out for that

[Crosby87]

Glenn Nyberg

[passinginterest]

This is madness

[pineapple stu]

We can't even really hope for a red card or a penalty save given how many of those we've had lately.
Well shut my mouth

[Crosby87]

Start Subbing to keep some legs fresh for Hungary

[joey B]

I can’t believe what I’m watching!

[samhaydenjr]

4-0 and a draw will do us on Sunday!!

Since this apparently is opposite day I'm open to anything


Alas, it will still leave us needing a win. A win still leaves us a point behind Hungary.
Well now, a couple of more goals, a win on Sunday and Portugal trip over Armenia and...

[placid casual]

Idah coming on, so both team's down to 10 men 😅

[SkStu]

I’ve only stopped laughing at that now. Good enough for him. Crybaby Ronnie, eh?

[SkStu]

Coventry has very hairy forearms.

[pineapple stu]

Idah coming on, so both team's down to 10 men ������

A little bit harsh! But I still laughed ������

[pineapple stu]

Is Ronaldo potentially suspended for the World Cup opener if they get there now?

[rebelmusic]

Is Ronaldo potentially suspended for the World Cup opener if they get there now?

Just the next match I would have thought

Or is straight red two games?

[pineapple stu]

Depends what it was for. Violent conduct could be 2/3 games

(I didn't see it - thought he was being booked for diving initially)

[SkStu]

Vasco DaGama, Ferdinand Magellan, Eusebio, Jose Mourinho, Nelly Furtado, Ana Dias, Razors missus!

Can you hear me Razors missus!

Your boys took one hell of a beating! Your boys took one hell of a beating!

[osarusan]

Jaysus.

[passinginterest]

It was definitely violent conduct. Elbowed O’Shea in the back and it wasn’t just a little dig it was a proper swing. I’d say it’s 2 games minimum.

That was fun for a change. Probably should have picked them off for another one with the chance Johnston butchered. Festy was awful when he came on. Pretty much the only negative. Great save from Kelleher but amazing the he only really had to make one.

[tetsujin1979]

I've been sitting on this stat for a while, and I was soooo tempted to post it at half time.
1989086725910802563

[osarusan]

Thought we defended superbly.

Never let them play through the defence and forced them wide into crosses they didn't really want to be making, which were headed away pretty much every time.

There was that one scramble before half time (partly because a clearance hit another Irish player and went back into the danger zone) and then Kelleher had one good save to make late on, but apart from that they threatened very little.

They showed very little urgency and looked like they thought a goal would just come eventually, but that's their problem.

It was always going to be about defendig the final third and hoping to nick something on the break or from setpieces, and we managed to do just that.

[Eirambler]

Yep, thought we were 100% gone after the Hungary result earlier. Still very much up against it, but even taking it to the last game (and still with a mathematical chance of winning the group) puts us in a different place than we have been at any point in the last five years.

[rebelmusic]

Trap would have been proud of that performance. Overwhelmed at the mo. Even if they don't make it on Sunday, they gave us a full campaign and that's more that we've had in almost a decade. Considering all the injuries and suspensions this was monumental

[pineapple stu]

It was definitely violent conduct. Elbowed O’Shea in the back and it wasn’t just a little dig it was a proper swing. I’d say it’s 2 games minimum.

That was fun for a change. Probably should have picked them off for another one with the chance Johnston butchered. Festy was awful when he came on. Pretty much the only negative. Great save from Kelleher but amazing the he only really had to make one.

Was it O'Shea who slapped Ronaldo (or who Ronaldo slapped) before the penalty in 2021? Proper grudge there if so!

Agree on Festy. Three different between Idah and Parrott is night and day too. But all of a sudden if we have a decent keeper and a decent striker, we can go into any game with a chance. And Sunday is a game

No idea how that's the same team that lost to Armenia

Stadium still hopping. Great evening.

[Fixer82]

Great win. Everyone did great. Except for Ebosele who was brutal all round. Is he not used to playing on the left?
He’s played so well against Armenia.
He’s a pretty greedy player. As is Johnston, maybe to a slightly lesser extent. Johnston made a mess of his chance but tracked back well.

It was a well organised performance. As was the Armenia game at home.

I think we’re starting to see a bit of a personality to the team.

Also great to see Robbie Brady there at the end. Good to see that inclusion even though he’s injured.