Stephen Kenny speaks: “We’re absolutely hugely disappointed,” says the Ireland manager. “Players have been exceptional tonight overall. Certainly their efforts ... the game in the first half went the way we wanted, we controlled passages of the game and we restricted Portugal’s chances ... then scored of course. And we had chances to double our lead.
“Portugal were superb in the second half, we had to dig in and defend heroically. We just can’t believe that we lost it because we should have won it. We were only two minutes away and the free-kick that’s given just outside the box when they shoot wide ... it was just incredible it was given. But these are the things you just have to accept. I think the players were magnificent and overall their efforts were something to be proud of. To lose is so difficult for them at the moment.”
Group F: Austria have beaten Moldova 3-0 in tonght’s drone-induced late kick-off. The result pushes Scotland down to fourth place in the group.
Andy Robertson speaks: “We had to weather the storm and we didn’t do that well enough,” says the Scotland defender to Sky Sports, following his team’s defeat at the hands of Denmark. “We weren’t brave on the ball and we couldn’t keep it. We kept inviting pressure. We had a crazy four, five minutes and concede two goals. Second half, we were determined not to concede any more. We can’t give teams 45-minutes head starts.”
Match report: Portugal 2-1 Republic of Ireland
Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty but scored two late headers to deny Ireland a famous, much-needed and long overdue victory. Words: Paul Doyle.
Match report: Denmark 2-0 Scotland
Group F: Steve Clarke had called it “the most disruptive week going into a camp” and the ramifications for Scotland were laid bare as Denmark continued their comfortable advance towards a place at the 2022 World Cup, writes Andy Hunter.
Cristiano Ronaldo speaks: “I’m so happy,” he says in his post-match interview with RTE’s Tony O’Donoghue. “Not only because I beat the record but because of the special moments that we had. Two goals in the end of the game ... so tough but I have to appreciate what the team did, playing until the end. And the supporters ... I’m so glad.”
On his penalty miss: “It’s part of the business. It’s part of the buniness. Sometimes you score, sometimes you make a mistake. But I still believed until the end of the game but I’m so glad to score and to win the game.”
Postscript: It’s worth noting that Cristiano Ronaldo was booked for removing his shirt in celebration all the better to show off his chiselled torso following his second goal. It left Ireland’s players understandably devastated but they will now have to pick themselves up for home qualifiers against Azerbaijan and Serbia. They’re fourth in Group A without a point to their name, while Portugal sit top with 10 points.
Tonight's final scores
Group A
- Luxembourg 2-1 Azerbaijan
- Portugal 2-1 Republic of Ireland
Group D
- Kazakhstan 2-2 Ukraine (result)
- France 1-1 Bosnia and Herzogovina
Group F
- Denmark 2-0 Scotland
- Faroe Islands 0-4 Israel
- Moldova 0-1 Austria (latest score)
Group G
- Latvia 3-1 Gibraltar
- Norway 1-1 Netherlands
- Turkey 2-2 Montenegro
Group H
- Malta 3-0 Cyprus
- Russia 0-0 Croatia
- Slovenia 1-1 Slovakia
- View the Qatar 2020 group tables
Full time: Portugal 2-1 Rep of Ireland
Group A: If Ireland didn’t have bad luck, they’d have no luck at all. A brace of Ronaldo headers helps Portugal come from behind to beat Ireland. John Egan had put the Irish ahead but his goal and his teammates’ largely heroic defensive display wasn’t enough.
GOAL! Portugal 2-1 Rep of Ireland (Ronaldo 90+6)
Ronaldo wins it for Portugal. The git. In the sixth minute of five minutes of added time, he scores with another header.
Updated
Full-time: Denmark 2-0 Scotland
Group F: It’s all over in Copenhagen, where a dismal first-half performance has cost Scotland dearly. They will almost certainly finish the evening in fourth place in the group.
Portugal 1-1 Rep of Ireland: Ronaldo has now scored more goals than any other male international in history and I think this Irishman speaks for a nation when I say I could not be less pleased for him. That’s a real kick in the guts for Ireland at the end of a brilliant performance.
GOAL! Portugal 1-1 Rep of Ireland (Ronaldo 89)
Ronaldo score his 11oth goal for Portugal. He connects with a cross from the right and plants a header into the bottom corner from about 10 yards out.
Updated
Portugal 0-1 Rep of Ireland: Joao Mario has a goalbound shot blocked by Andrew Omobamidele after Seamus Coleman had given the ball away cheaply. Portugal have a free-kick a couple of yards outside the Ireland penalty area and Ronaldo is standing over it. He gets the ball on target but is denied once again by Gavin Bazunu. Be still my thumping heart.
Portugal 0-1 Rep of Ireland: Cristiano Ronaldo cuts inside from the left and shoots high and wide from distance, ignoring various options available to him in the penalty area. He waves an apology at his visibly irritated teammates.
Portugal 0-1 Rep of Ireland: Ireland continue to defend stoutly. Andre Silva tries a spectacular shot from distance for Portugal but the ball sails wide. There are eight minutes (and the rest) remaining.
Portugal 0-1 Rep of Ireland: Yikes! Bernardo Silva creates room for a shot in the Irish penalty area and blazes over the bar with the goal at his mercy. Aaron Connolly is off and has been replaced by James McClean. There are 15 minutes remaining.
Denmark 2-0 Scotland: With Ireland’s one-goal lead against Portugal the standout scoreline of the night so far, there’s not much of note to report from the second half in Copenhagen. Ryan Christie has just replaced Che Adams in the Scotland line-up.
Portugal 0-1 Rep of Ireland: Something to worry Manchester United fans who aren’t blinded by celebrity as Bruno Fernandes trudges off disconsolately following another unconvincing display in the same team as Cristiano Ronaldo. He’s replaced by Joao Mario with 62 minutes on the clock.
Portugal 0-1 Rep of Ireland: Irish goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu grabs a dropping ball and visibly annoys Ronaldo as he lies on the ground at length, gets to his feet and further dilly-dallies over playing the ball downfield. You love to see it.
Portugal 0-1 Rep of Ireland: With 57 minutes gone, Ireland are still in the lead and their players are being booed for their time-wasting tactics. More, please. They attack on the break and Aaron Connolly puts the ball wide under pressure after connecting with a knockdown from John Egan, who’d connected with an Adam Idah cross from the left. There’s a VAR consultation but no penalty is forthcoming for a possible foul by Pepe.
Moldova 0-1 Austria: Having got rid of the rogue drone that delayed kick-off, the deadlock has been broken. Christoph Baumgartner has put Austria one up just before half-time.
France 1-1 Bosnia-Herzegovina: A bad week for Jules Kounde has just got worse. Having failed to secure a deadline day move from Sevilla to Chelsea, the France defender has just had a yellow card upgraded to a red for a bad challenge on Sead Kolasinac.
Denmark 2-0 Scotland: Lyndon Dykes is on for Scott McKenna in Copenhagen and Billy Gilmour has had a pop from distance for Scotland. Wide. Elsewhere it’s Latvia 1-0 Gibraltar, Malta 2-0 Cyprus and Faroe Islands 0-3 Israel.
Play resumes in Portugal and elsewhere ...
Portugal 0-1 Rep of Ireland: Running scared of Stephen Kenny’s brave Irish boys, Portugal make a change at half-time, replacing one Silva with another: Andre is on for Rafa.
Updated
Contrasting fortunes for Ireland and Scotland: Understrength Scotland have been dismal in Copenhagen, while the Republic of Ireland have ridden their luck at times to go in at half-time a goal to the good in Portugal. Cristiano Ronaldo missed an early penalty for the Portuguese before Diogo Jota hit the woodwork, but it was John Egan who scored the only goal of the half to put the Irish ahead. It’s a lead they probably deserve, having grown into the game as the game progressed. Aaron Connolly has given Ronaldo and chums plenty to think about and should have scored shortly before the break.
Saw the Scotland team and opted to remain on the golf course. Appears one of my better decisions.
— Ewan Murray (@mrewanmurray) September 1, 2021
World Cup qualifier half-times
Group A
- Luxembourg 2-0 Azerbaijan
- Portugal 0-1 Republic of Ireland
Group D
- Kazakhstan 2-2 Ukraine (result)
- France 1-1 Bosnia and Herzogovina
Group F
- Denmark 2-0 Scotland
- Faroe Islands 0-2 Israel
- Moldova v Austria (match delayed)
Group G
- Latvia 0-0 Gibraltar
- Norway 1-1 Netherlands
- Turkey 2-1 Montenegro
Group H
- Malta 1-0 Cyprus
- Russia 0-0 Croatia
- Slovenia 1-1 Slovakia
Portugal 0-1 Rep of Ireland: Diogo Jota goes close twice in quick succession in first half added time. Bazunu saves at the foot of the post, then Jota sends a shot flashing wide of the other upright.
France 1-1 Bosnia-Herzegovina: Antoine Griezmann equalises for the French in Strasbourg.
Updated
GOAL! Portugal 0-1 Rep of Ireland (Egan 45+1)
Ireland take the lead! John Egan makes an excellent near post run to glance home a header from a corner.
Updated
Portugal 0-0 Rep of Ireland: I missed it during all the excitment surrounding Portugal’s penalty but it’s worth noting that when Ronaldo placed the ball on the spot, Dara O’Shea proceeded to kick it off the spot. Ronaldo promptly tried to cuff him in the face and while contact was minimal, O’Shea made a bit of a meal of it. Ronaldo went unsanctioned but might consider himself lucky to have escaped a red card.
Updated
France 0-1 Bosnia-Herzogovina: Edin Dzeko puts the visitors a goal up against the World Champions after 36 minutes in Strasbourg.
Norway 1-1 Netherlands: Davy Klaassen equalises for the Netherlands in Oslo.
Updated
Portugal 0-0 Republic of Ireland: Dara O’Shea has just been helped off the pitch by two of Ireland’s medical staff and been replaced by teenage debutant Andrew Omobamidele. Well done to him.
More goals: It’s Luxembourg 2-0 Azerbaijan, Turkey 2-0 Montenegro and Slovenia 0-1 Slovakia. Meanwhile in Moldova, the kick-off between the hostas and Austria has apparently been delayed due to the presence of a drone hovering over the pitch.
Portugal 0-0 Rep of Ireland: Joao Cancelo crosses from the right and Diogo Jota gets the wrong side of Seamus Coleman. He leaps to meet the incoming ball unchallenged and plants a firm header against the upright. That’s another let-off for Ireland.
Denmark 2-0 Scotland: It’s been schoolboy stuff from the Scots, who conceded two goals in 70 first half seconds. Daniel Wass leapt above Kieran Tierney to head the Danes in front, shortly before BIlly Gilmour was caught ball-watching and failed to track the run of Joakim Maehle, who poked home from close range.
Latest scores ...
Group A
- Luxembourg 1-0 Azerbaijan
- Portugal 0-0 Republic of Ireland
Group D
- Kazakhstan 2-2 Ukraine (result)
- France 0-0 Bosnia and Herzogovina
Group F
- Denmark 2-0 Scotland
- Faroe Islands 0-1 Israel
- Moldova v Austria (match delayed)
Group G
- Latvia 0-0 Gibraltar
- Norway 1-0 Netherlands
- Turkey 1-0 Montenegro
Group H
- Malta 0-0 Cyprus
- Russia 0-0 Croatia
- Slovenia 0-0 Slovakia
Elsewhere in Europe: Turkey lead Montenegro 1-0 after Cengiz Under, currently of Marseille (on loan from Roma) and formerly of Leicester. Meanwhile in Oslo, who else but Erling Braut Haaland has fired Norway ahead against the Netherlands on the 20-minute mark.
Updated
Denmark 2-0 Scotland: While all that was going on in Portugal, Scotland have gone not one but two goals behind in Copenhagen. Daniel Wass put the Danes a goal up after 14 minutes and Joakim Maehle doubled their lead a minute later. Ouch! That’s a disastrous start for Scotland.
Updated
Portugal 0-0 Rep of Ireland: Having studied the pitchside monitor at great length while in consultation with his Video Assistant Referee, Slovenian ref Matej Jug confirmed his decision to award a penalty ... and having seen it a few more times, I think it was the wrong decision as Hendrick appeared to get the ball with his challenge before catching his man with the follow-through. Following Bazunu’s save, there was another consultation to see if the keeper had come off his line but there’s no retake.
Updated
RONALDO MISSES FROM THE SPOT!
Gavin Bazunu saves!!! After a delay of five or more minutes, Ronaldo takes his penalty kick. Bazunu dives to his right and saves!
Updated
Portugal 0-0 Rep of Ireland: Following a long, long delay, the referee awards the penalty to Portugal.
Portugal 0-0 Rep of Ireland: Cristiano Ronaldo is ready to take the penalty but there’s a VAR check in progress. It looked nailed on to this Irishman but the referee has trotted over to his pitchside monitor to see if Jeff Hendrick got the ball. Hmmm ...
Penalty for Portugal!
Portugal 0-0 Rep of Ireland: Meanwhile in Portugal, a crowd of just over 7,000 are watching the opening minutes of Portugal’s match against the Republic of Ireland. Jeff Hendrick has just given away a penalty with a mistimed recoverry tackle after a wayward pass by Ireland goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu.
Denmark 0-0 Scotland: Tierney advances down the inside left but his ball into the centre goes straight to a red shirt and is cleared.
Denmark 0-0 Scotland: In a mildly interesting turn of events for Scotland, Andy Robertson has lined up at right wing-back for Scotland, a position many expected Kieran Tierney to fill. Tierney is on the left side of the park. Nothing else of note to report in these early stages.
Not long now: The last of the pre-match formalities are under way in Copenhagen and elsewhere ahead of tonight’s 7.45pm (BST) kick-offs. Scotland’s players have just given a stirring rendition of their anthem in the Parken Stadium.
🇫🇷 Mbappé, Benzema, Pogba & Griezmann all start for France...
— European Qualifiers (@EURO2020) September 1, 2021
🤔 Who are you backing to shine brightest?@FrenchTeam | #WCQ pic.twitter.com/9CqE7XY205
Group D: Kazakhstan came from behind twice and snatched a point with a late, late equaliser against Ukraine in today’s early World Cup qualifier at the Astana Arena. France top Group D with their game against Bosnia and Herzegovina to come tonight. Ukraine are three points behind them in second, having played one game more. Kazakhstan are second from bottom of the group with two points.
Updated
Match report: Finland 0-0 Wales
International friendly: Harry Wilson missed from the spot as Wales were held in a game of no little or no consequence in Helsinki. Ben Fisher reports ...
Russia v Croatia line-ups
Russia: Guilherme, Fernandes, Diveev, Dzhikija, Karavaev, Kuzyaev, Barinov, Golovin, Ionov, Miranchuk, Zakharyan.
Subs: Zobnin, Osipenko, Dyupin, Zabolotny, Mukhin, Samoshnikov, Bakaev, Erokhin, Cheryshev, Smolov, Sutormin, Lunev.
Croatia: Livakovic, Juranovic, Lovren, Gvardiol, Sosa, Brozovic, Kovacic, Vlasic, Pasalic, Perisic, Kramaric.
Subs: Colak, Orsic, Livaja, Barisic, Ivanusec, Moro, Caleta-Car, Skoric, Sluga, Uremovic, Majer, Ivusic.
Referee: Roi Reinshreiber (Israel)
Updated
Norway v Netherlands line-ups
Norway: Hansen, Pedersen, Strandberg, Hanche-Olsen, Meling, Thorsby, Normann, Odegaard, Elyounoussi, Hauge, Haaland.
Subs: Daehli, Ryerson, Berg, Botheim, Gabrielsen, Ajer, Nyland, Bratveit, King, Donnum, Aursnes, Bjorkan.
Netherlands: Bijlow, Timber, de Vrij, van Dijk, Blind, Wijnaldum, de Jong, Klaassen, Berghuis, Depay, Gakpo.
Subs: Ake, Bergwijn, Malacia, de Roon, Gravenberch, Krul, Dumfries, Til, Koopmeiners, Malen, Weghorst, Drommel.
Referee: Szymon Marciniak (Poland)
Denmark v Scotland line-ups
Denmark: Schmeichel, Wass, Andersen, Kjaer, Maehle, Hojbjerg, Christensen, Delaney, Skov Olsen, Poulsen, Damsgaard.
Subs: Ronnow, Daramy, Kristensen, Wind, Lindstrom, Norgaard, Stryger Larsen, Christiansen, Lossl, Nelsson, Bruun Larsen, Ingvartsen.
Scotland: Gordon, Hanley, Cooper, McKenna, Robertson, Gilmour, McLean, McGregor, Tierney, Adams, Fraser.
Subs: Hendry, Gallagher, Turnbull, Ferguson, Clark, Dykes, Kelly, Christie.
Referee: Ovidiu Alin Hategan (Romania)
Updated
Scotland team news
Craig Gordon is back in goal for Scotland’s World Cup qualifier against Denmark in Copenhagen. With David Marshall out the squad after losing his place at Derby, the 38-year-old Hearts goalkeeper is reinstated for his 58th cap.
Steve Clarke travels with a decimated squad due to injuries and Covid-19 issues and it looked like Arsenal’s left-sided defender Kieran Tierney could be deployed as a right wing-back. Kenny McLean, who missed Euro 2020 through injury is back in midfield alongside Norwich team-mate Billy Gilmour with Southampton’s Che Adams leading the line.
Portugal v Rep of Ireland line-ups
Portugal: Rui Patricio, Joao Cancelo, Pepe, Dias, Guerreiro, Bruno Fernandes, Joao Palhinha, Bernardo Silva, Rafa Silva, Ronaldo, Jota.
Subs: Otavio, Joao Mario, Danilo Pereira, Nelson Semedo, Andre Silva, Nuno Mendes, Domingos Duarte, Costa, Neves, Joao Moutinho, Goncalo Guedes, Lopes.
Rep of Ireland: Bazunu, Duffy, O’Shea, Egan, Coleman, Hendrick, Cullen, McGrath, Doherty, Connolly, Idah.
Subs: Horgan, Molumby, Arter, Omobamidele, Parrott, Manning, Kelleher, Hourihane, James Collins, Talbot, McClean.
Referee: Matej Jug (Slovenia)
Full time: Finland 0-0 Wales
International friendly: It’s finished all square in Helsinki, where Brennan Johnson won a first-half penalty for Wales, which Harry Wilson failed to convert.
Republic of Ireland team news: Aaron Connolly and Adam Idah will play up front for Ireland against Portugal in Faro. The duo, who were ruled out of last October’s Euro 2020 play-off semi-final clash with Slovakia by Covid-19 protocols, were handed starts as it emerged Shane Long had tested positive for coronavirus. Connolly, skipper Seamus Coleman and midfielders Jeff Hendrick and Jamie McGrath were included in four changes to the side which drew 0-0 with Hungary in a friendly in June.
Northern Ireland news: Northern Ireland will be without Stuart Dallas for tomorrow’s World Cup qualifier against Lithuania. The Leeds right-back did not travel to Vilnius on Wednesday for personal reasons, with an issue arising within the last 24 hours to rule the 30-year-old out of contention.
That adds to manager Ian Baraclough’s selection headaches with Jonny and Corry Evans, George Saville, Josh Magennis and Liam Boyce already unavailable for the trip. “We all know how good a player Stuart Dallas is but we’ve also got players desperate for a chance to play,” he said.
“As soon as they came in, the first meeting, we said make sure you’re ready to play. Don’t come in thinking you’re going to be a bit-part player. Everyone knows they’ve got a chance of playing.
“Everyone in the squad near enough is playing regular football at the moment, it makes it more competitive and we know if we call on anybody they’re ready.”
Finland v Wales: Robert Page’s side are in action against Finland in Helsinki right now and it’s currently scoreless in their friendly ahead of a fiendishly arduous trip to Kazan to face Belarus in a World Cup qualifier on Sunday. Moved to Russia because of sanctions against Belarus’s government, Page has been vocal in his criticism of what he has termed a logistical “nightmare” but Uefa were unbending in their determination to stage the behind-closed-doors game 2,000 miles away from Cardiff.
Wales have another World Cup qualifier at home against Estonia next Wednesday. Wales currently sit third in Group E, a point behind the Czech Republic and four points behind leaders Belgium, having played one game fewer than the two teams above them.
Updated
Early Republic of Ireland team news
With Cristiano Ronaldo looking for a world record-breaking 110th international goal, there’s every chance the Republic of Ireland will play no more than an ignominious bit part in the latest high profile chapter of the headline-grabbing footballer’s career. Currently level with former Iranian striker Ali Daei on 109, Ronaldo will fancy his chances of filling his boots against tonight’s visitors to the Estadio Algarve.
On loan from Manchester City, Portsmouth’s 19-year-old goalkeeper, Gavin Bazunu, will be the man tasked with repelling Ronaldo and will call on the assistance of a back five likely to be made of Seamus Coleman, John Egan, Shane Duffy, Dara O’Shea and James McClean. One of three young goalkeepers in the squad with just eight caps between them, Bazunu is likely to get the nod ahead of Mark Travers and Caoimhin Kelleher.
Out of favour at Aston Villa but with a loan move to Sheffield United secured since Monday, Conor Hourihane is likely to field in the heart of Ireland’s midfield, alongside one of Josh Cullen, Harry Arter or Jeff Hendrick. Of that particular trio, only Cullen is playing regular first team football, with Anderlecht in Belgium. Arter has just gone on loan to Charlton Athletic from Championship strugglers Nottingham Forest, while Hendrick is on the fringes at Newcastle. Up front, Troy Parrott, Aaron Connolly and Adam Idah are all available for selection.
Early Scotland team news
Steve Clarke has had a far from ideal build-up to tonight’s gfame against Denmark, having been forced to leave Stephen O’Donnell, John McGinn and Nathan Patterson at home for Covid-related reasons. They have increased the length of a list of absentees that also includes the injured Scott McTominay, Kevin Nisbet, James Forrest, Stuart Armstrong and Greg Taylor.
“My daughter has been suffering from long Covid since January,” said Clarke, helping himself to a healthy dollop of perspective. “So I understand that people are suffering with this disease. So let’s not go too far down the road of ‘poor us’.”
Qualification for Qatar 2022 continues ...
With the World Cup scheduled to kick off in Qatar in a little under 15 months, European qualifying resumes tonight after its summer hiatus for Euro 2020 and two of the home nations are involved.
Currently second in Group F and four points off the pace, Scotland travel to Copenhagen for what promises to be a difficult match against leaders Denmark, while a Republic of Ireland side that has won just one out of 13 matches – a friendly against Andorra – during the beleaguered reign of Stephen Kenny remains pointless after two qualifier and will have their work cut out to gain any sort of positive result in their Group A match away to Portugal.
Elsewhere in Europe, reigning champions France host Bosnia and Herzegovina, Russia entertain Croatia, and Norway welcome the Netherlands in some of this evening’s more eye-catching qualifiers. We’ll be casting a wide net tonight as we bring you team news, in-game updates, goal flashes and any other major talking points. It’s the Guardian – keeping tabs on the international action so that you don’t have to.
