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

[pineapple stu]

Can't fit the year in the thread title...

Despite being minutes away from a draw in Portugal, it's hard to see us getting anything out of this one - there's a huge injury list if nothing else. Ferguson, Doherty, Brady, Lawal, Smallbone, Knight, Szmodics, plus Manning suspended. And we'll hardly be as lucky as to get another opposing red card in this one (or save another Ronaldo penalty!)

Could see a couple of left-field call-ups here, and will be hoping no more injuries at the weekend.

Hard to get too worked up about this one though given the campaign is basically over and there's then eight months of friendlies to come before another likely similarly depressing Nations League campaign gets underway.

[Razors left peg]

Can't fit the year in the thread title...

Despite being minutes away from a draw in Portugal, it's hard to see us getting anything out of this one - there's a huge injury list if nothing else. Ferguson, Doherty, Brady, Lawal, Smallbone, Knight, Szmodics, plus Manning suspended. And we'll hardly be as lucky as to get another opposing red card in this one (or save another Ronaldo penalty!)

Could see a couple of left-field call-ups here, and will be hoping no more injuries at the weekend.

Hard to get too worked up about this one though given the campaign is basically over and there's then eight months of friendlies to come before another likely similarly depressing Nations League campaign gets underway.

Other than maybe Louie Barry who could even be considered a left field call up for this?

[Grafter]

Ah lads, as we stand here today it's hardly over... Armenia v Hungary two hours earlier is huge though and it's the biggest game ever in Yerevan, anything could still happen. I'm so done with our Irish cynicism, pessimism and blatant hurling on the ditch. Let's not get so crestfallen so easily!

[John83]

Easily?

[Eirambler]

Kevin O'Toole - a new name for me, but he plays left back so welcome, Kevin!

[pixiehead]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/G5EKkclWoAA9u6a?format=jpg&name=small

[Kingdom]

Kevin O'Toole - a new name for me, but he plays left back so welcome, Kevin!

That McGregor meme is going to be the most used meme today on social media.

[Fixer82]

No Johnny Kenny

[elatedscum]

No Johnny Kenny

I think Ferguson and Sykes are both pretty unlikely. Sykes got injured last night and Ferguson last week. Wouldn’t be surprised to see Kenny get a call up.

Feel pretty sorry for O’Dowda and McGrath, considering the injuries, totally mental that they haven’t made the squad.

[Fixer82]

I would have Kenny and Browne in the squad. McGrath and O’Dowda can also feel hard done by for sure

[elatedscum]

Kevin O'Toole - a new name for me, but he plays left back so welcome, Kevin!

Discussion from August in the potentially eligible thread:


First time hearing about this lad: https://www.irishstar.com/news/new-york-news/kevin-otoole-new-york-interview-32233294

Anyone know if he’s any good?


I dont mean to sound like a smart-arse or to sh!t on him but that interview has the bang of Joey Lapira off it. Knowing what I know about MLS, I cant see that a 25 year old with 34 MLS appearances and who visited last year for the first time since he was 3 years old is the answer to our problems (and i know that is not actually the question you asked)...

[pineapple stu]

Other than maybe Louie Barry who could even be considered a left field call up for this?

Kevin O'Toole I guess!

Never even heard of him. More left-field than I was expecting to be quite honest

Ferry gone, so this guy is our next chance it seems?

[elatedscum]

Kevin O'Toole I guess!

Never even heard of him. More left-field than I was expecting to be quite honest

Only natural left back in the squad to face Portugal.

Alternative choices were O’Dowda, Ndaba, Gallagher, Ferry, Honahan (if fit), Roughan, Adaramola, Bagan.

[Predator]

There is always a possibility that we've unearthed a late bloomer who has gone under the radar, but it doesn't say much for O'Toole that he's never had a single youth cap for the US and that the bulk of his career has been spent playing college ball, USL and MLS Next Pro football. It can happen (Max Kilman comes to mind), but let's just say I'm skeptical.

[pineapple stu]

Only natural left back in the squad to face Portugal.

Alternative choices were O’Dowda, Ndaba, Gallagher, Ferry, Honahan (if fit), Roughan, Adaramola, Bagan.
Scales could play there, though he's better in the centre.

Browne has played there before - although maybe more left wing-back rather than left-back I guess.

(That may be what you meant by "natural" in fairness - but they may still be preferable options)

[texidub]

I'd have included Kenny. Friendlies/Nations League better for trying out untested (at int. level) MLS players, IMO.

[SkStu]

My Joey Lapira prediction is still on... :) WTF!

[Diggs246]

People will think I'm insane and that's more than fair.
But what I'm hoping for is armenia and Hungary to draw and we get well beaten by Portugal. My philosophy is we have one good game per international window and by God! Let that be against Hungary to give us a small chance of a play off. If we break our body's and souls to get a draw against Portugal, I just don't believe we can win a few days later

[zero]

Couple of odd decisions alright. not really sure why we keep including Jimmy Dunne - at centre half I would suggest all of o'brien, o'shea, collins, scales, egan and maybe even coleman are ahead of him in the pecking order. I do expect to see a 5-3-2 given the number of centre halves but even so...

[Razors left peg]

Kevin O'Toole I guess!

Never even heard of him. More left-field than I was expecting to be quite honest

Ferry gone, so this guy is our next chance it seems?

Certainly left field. Its madness really that our lack of a left back as come to this. Its not like we havent seen this coming down the tracks for years

[elatedscum]

Certainly left field. Its madness really that our lack of a left back as come to this. Its not like we havent seen this coming down the tracks for years

Bring back James McClean

[Grafter]

Bring back James McClean
I take it you're being facetious, sure didn't he have some words about the regime in September?

[backstothewall]

Certainly left field. Its madness really that our lack of a left back as come to this. Its not like we havent seen this coming down the tracks for years

A rabbit has been pulled out of a hat to a certain extent with O'Toole. He's playing regularly in MLS which is probably a higher level than I anticipated we would end up picking a right back from (League 1).

But given the likelyhood that we would face this slection crunch at left back it's madness that he's not been capped before now. In an ideal world he would have spent a window with the squad without playing, then come back for a second window and made his international debut in a friendly or getting 10 minutes at the end of a Nations League. Instead of that he'll be expected to take a transatlantic flight, overcome any jet lag, train with the squad for 2 or 3 days and somehow get up to speed with how we play, then presumably play 90 minutes of a World Cup qualifier up against Bernardo Silva?

Is there any other option at left back for that game? I can't see any in that squad.

The FAI need to explain when they became aware of his eligibility and when he became available for selection (post any paperwork with FIFA if that was necessary).

[ifk101]

HH said yesterday that O'Toole has been working on the paperwork for the past year, and that his clearance has just come through. Missing is the motivation as to why he chose O'Toole ahead of others. Not that I think Will Ferry should be in the squad, but the lack of continunity in the addition of new faces to squad selections is troubling. As much as players need to hit the ground running when they come in, there needs to be some balance in allowing them to bed in and get to know what's wanted/ how we play. Difficult to build a team if the makeup is in constant flux.

[Grafter]

Just on FIFA eligibility, clearance paperwork etc... it always seems to take an age with us when a player is moving from another nation to us. I was struck by how swift the Rice move to England got done by FIFA in 2018/19.....

[elatedscum]

Just on FIFA eligibility, clearance paperwork etc... it always seems to take an age with us when a player is moving from another nation to us. I was struck by how swift the Rice move to England got done by FIFA in 2018/19.....

Deccers got it done in 3 weeks. The IFA when dealing with Michael Duffy took a new approach by just ignoring the transfer for near 3 years until FIFA stepped in. Meant that both Martin O'Neill and Stephen Kenny couldn't call him up when he was deserving of a place in the squad and they wanted to call him up.

[elatedscum]

I take it you're being facetious, sure didn't he have some words about the regime in September?

Mostly. Didn't realise he had a hip injury anyway.

But honestly if there's the choice is between dropping in a debutant who is entirely unfamiliar with Irish football to play in a make or break, backs against the wall performance against Portugal, who has spent just a week of his post-toddler life in Ireland, who has never been to the stadium, probably never seen the majority of his teammates play even on tv and equally, none of his teammates have seen him play - versus James McClean who will give everything to defend and fight and bleed and sweat for the shirt. I think I'm taking James.

I don't mind calling O'Toole up - but I wouldn't want him as the only option. To say we don't have many options is an understatement:

Considering Manning, Brady, O'Dowda, Honahan and McClean were out, realistic options were:

Will Ferry - SPL player - I guess they didn't like what they saw in the last camp
Corrie Ndaba - handful of Serie A appearances after 2 years in SPL
Jon Gallagher - comfortable on either side of full back. Former MLS all-star, seems more highly rated over there than O'Toole

Joel Bagan - league 1 player, technically the best or most composed of the 3 in the same league
Sean Roughan - league 1 player, physically and mentally strongest and best left foot
Tayo Adaramola - league 1 player, quickest and best dribbler of the three

[ifk101]

Kevin Kilbane calling the inclusion of O'Toole "totally bizarre, totally off the wall". Oh dear ...

[Eirambler]

McGrath and Kenny in for Ferguson and Sykes. Ferguson not yet ruled out of the Hungary game.

[irishfan86]

Too early to post our lineups for Portugal?

I’d be playing a 4-4-1-1 asking a lot of Ebsole and Ogbene to support defensively and counter quickly when we get the ball.

I’d play O’Shea at left fullback which is asking a lot but I believe he has the quality and mobility to get through it.

With Ferguson out, would get Idah to lead the line and tell him to stand on the halfway line when Portugal is pressuring us and drop to support defensively under no circumstances— this only puts us under additional pressure by allowing Portugal to push defenders forward.

With Idah staying on the halfway line and Ogbene and Ebosele on the pitch, Portugal will have to hold more bodies back which will slightly reduce their attacking capability.

—————Kelleher—————-
Coleman—-Collins—O’Brien—O’Shea
————-Cullen——-Taylor———
Ebosele———-Parrott——-Ogbene—-
——————-Idah———-

[ifk101]

I'd imagine they'd like to have the Armenia/ Hungary result before naming the team.

[pineapple stu]

Question may be did our line-up work in Portugal last month? If it did, then should we try keep as close to that as possible?

It worked in that Portugal didn't score until injury time. It didn't work in that they had 28 shots to 3, including missing a penalty, and if we go down that route again we run the risk of the game ending 4-0.

So the October team was -

-------------Kelleher------------- (has to start)
----O'Shea--Collins--O'Brien---- (not sure we have much to improve on this. A defensive setup probably makes sense)
Coleman-----------------Manning (Scales in for the suspended Manning? Options here aren't great)
-----Molumby---Cullen----------- (do you throw Coventry in for his debut with Molumby suspended/Smallbone injured/Browne not included?
Ebosele-------------------Ogbene (not sure these guys are as good as others suggest, but equally Johnston was worse when he came on in Portugal and I don't think McGrath is an upgrade either)
--------------Parrott-------------- (has to start)

[ifk101]

Don’t think Parrott has to start. If the intention is to sit deep, keep Portugal scoreless and play high and long relief balls out of defence, Idah is the better choice for striker. Parrott is the choice based on pure merit, but horses for courses and all that.

[rebelmusic]

I'd agree with the 4-4-1-1. We know we'll control nothing through the middle so go with 2 DMs instead of 5 at the back. Basically we should be playing the Trappatoni formation. Yes we got annihilated in some matches with that but we also drew with France and got results against Italy. 5 at the back will be a repeat of the laat match and they'll be wrecked for Hungary.

If Hungary don't win, put out a second string imo. The worst management of this will be if Hungary don't win and whatever we way we play on Thursday has the team knackered for the final match

[Fixer82]

Kelleher
Coleman O’Brien O’Shea O’Toole/Scales
Collins
Cullen Molumby
Ebosele Ogbene

Idah


Meh. I’ve no idea. Parrot and Azaz could also start.
Johnston could come in. But they’re all attacking players. Not sure we have much room for creative attackers in this game. Time will tell as the game goes on I guess

[the 12 th man]

Rumor doing the rounds that Ronaldo pulled out of training today with thigh strain.

[pineapple stu]

That'd probably be bad news for us

[the 12 th man]

That'd probably be bad news for us

Yep,he's vastly diminished,just a rumour,he very rarely misses any game.

[Kingdom]

Reading between the lines of what HH is reported to have said y'day, we're sitting deep, blocking shots and forcing them into crosses. The 1-0 in Lisbon was like the 1-0 in Zagreb many many years ago - heartbreaking due to the nature of the deciding goal, but completely deserved because of the intention.

In that regard, I wouldn't pick Parrott to start as it would be a pointless waste of his time. If the objective is to harry and harass all over the field, you pick those who have the most stamina, and are the quickest, in front of the back 6 (5 + Cullen holding). Knight, Molumby, Ebosele, Ogbene would be my choices.

[irishfan86]

Molumby suspended Kingdom. I put in Taylor for his physicality but agree I would prefer Molumby in a match like this.

[Crosby87]

What's everyone predicting?

Me head says 4-0 Portugal
Me heart says 3-0 Portugal

[sbgawa]

Wont be that bad i think maybe only 2 nil, once they have the game wrapped up will they be bothered putting on a show for the home crowd.
Manager will probably empty the bench early not that that will help us much

[Fixer82]

The weather might help us.
I think we might get a draw

[pineapple stu]

Hungary take the lead in Yerevan...

[pineapple stu]

Wont be that bad i think maybe only 2 nil, once they have the game wrapped up will they be bothered putting on a show for the home crowd.
Manager will probably empty the bench early not that that will help us much
Every time I think we're about to get thumped, we either put on a decent backs-to-the-wall performance (like last month) or get swept away in the first 20 minutes and then nothing else happens (like you suggest)

I'd be quite ok with that again to be honest. Can't see anything better. We can't even really hope for a red card or a penalty save given how many of those we've had lately.

Though I think we are due one of those games where we just get steamrolled - bit like how the Hungary game in September might have gone.

[Crosby87]

Armenia are terrible.

Intl footy is so, so bad

[Colbert Report]

If the 1-0 HT score for Hungary holds, we'll need a draw today and then we'll have to beat Hungary by at least three in Budapest.

[Fixer82]

Armenia are terrible.

Intl footy is so, so bad
They’re not that bad. They’re fast and can break well. And their keeper has some real quality

[the 12 th man]

Rumor doing the rounds that Ronaldo pulled out of training today with thigh strain.

He's starting so just rubbish.

[Fixer82]

Has Irish team been named?