Ireland vs Portugal LIVE: Stream, TV channel – Pepe SENT OFF as Cristiano Ronaldo & Co toil in World Cup qualifier
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PORTUGAL travel to Ireland for their World Cup 2022 qualifying clash in Dublin TONIGHT.
Cristiano Ronaldo & Co are aiming to reclaim top spot in Group A ahead of Serbia - who are one point above Portugal but have played a game more.
The Irish have already been eliminated from advancing from the group and will not be progressing to the Qatar World Cup next year.
- Kick-off: 7.45pm GMT
- TV/ live stream: Main Event & Football
- Ireland XI: Bazunu; Doherty, Coleman, Duffy, Egan, Stevens; Cullen, Hendrick; Ogbene, Robinson, McGrath.
- Portugal XI: Rui Patricio; Nelson Semedo, Pepe, Danilo, Dalot; Joao Palhinha, Matheus Nunes, Bruno Fernandes; Ronaldo, Andre Silva, Goncalo Guedes.
Follow ALL of the latest updates below...
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SUBSTITUTES
16 Kelleher, 23 Travers, 8 Hourihane, 9 Idah, 11 McClean, 12 Collins, 14 Browne, 15 Parrott, 17 Knight, 19 Keane, 21 Manning, 22 O'Dowda
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND XI
Stephen Kenny makes four changes from the team that started Ireland's last competitive game, the 3-0 win in Azerbaijan. Captain Seamus Coleman has returned but starts on the right of three centre-backs, allowing Matt Doherty to continue at wing-back; on the other flank, Enda Stevens replaces James McClean. The surprise may come in the hosts' forward line with Chiedozie Ogbene favoured over Adam Idah, and Jamie McGrath replacing the absent Daryl Horgan. It's 5-2-3 formation for Kenny, who will be expecting a lot from his wide players, both in defence and attack.
1 Bazunu; 10 Doherty, 2 Coleman, 4 Duffy, 5 Egan, 3 Stevens; 6 Cullen, 13 Hendrick; 20 Ogbene, 7 Robinson, 18 McGrath
Credit: @FAIreland Twitter THE TEAMSHEETS ARE IN!
MATCH ODDS
Portugal are odds on to complete a double over the Irish with a win that would take them to the top of Group A, but can Stephen Kenny's men upset the form book?
- Republic of Ireland 10/1
- Draw 15/4
- Portugal 3/10
correct at the time of posting.
IRELAND IN THE SUN
Good evening and welcome to Dublin for SunSport's live coverage of the World Cup Qualifier between the Republic of Ireland and Portugal.
The Boys in Green's hopes of qualifying for next year's finals may be non-existent, but their enthusiasm cannot be faulted.
More than 50,000 are expected inside the Aviva Stadium tonight as Stephen Kenny's men face the prospect of a third consecutive win for the first time in five years.
Of course, Portugal will present a much fiercer proposition than the beaten Azerbaijan and Qatar before them, but it's only two months since Ireland pushed the Selecao all the way in the Algarve.
Two Cristiano Ronaldo goals in the final seconds not only denied Ireland a historic win, but made history for the scorer himself; with his second strike deep into injury time, Ronaldo became the highest international scorer the men's game has ever seen.
The presence of the 36-year-old legend is a big reason for tonight's capacity crowd yet the majority will be delighted if the Manchester United forward fails to his 115 goals for his country.
It's not all about Ronaldo as far as the Portuguese are concerned though. A Selecao find themselves in a battle with Serbia for an automatic place at Qatar 2022, and will head into their crunch clash on Sunday as group leaders with a positive result tonight.
Kick-off in the Irish capital is scheduled for 7.45pm, and we'll shortly bring you news of how the two sides are setting up.
