That’s it for tonight’s blog. Paul Doyle’s match report has landed, so I’ll leave you with that. Thanks for your company - goodnight!
One other bit of business tonight: Kieffer Moore scored the only goal as an under-strength Wales beat Mexico 1-0 in their friendly match.
2008 - Coming into tonight Luxembourg had won just three of their 124 away matches in EURO/World Cup qualifiers (D10 L111) and were winless in their last 28 away qualifying matches (D6 L22) since a 2-1 win over Switzerland in September 2008. Alarming. pic.twitter.com/MrPTdAW9ta
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 27, 2021
Serbia 2-2 Portugal There was all sorts of drama in injury-time in Belgrade. Cristiano Ronaldo scored what should have been the winner for Portugal - but the officials didn’t think the ball had crossed the line and VAR is not in use. Oh my. Apparently Ronaldo threw his armband down and walked straight off the field.
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Republic of Ireland 0-1 Luxembourg It’s the most desperate night for Ireland, though Luxembourg deserve credit for a very good performance. They were the more relaxed team from the first whistle, and it was clear very early in the game that it was going to be a difficult night for Ireland. They had no idea.
Full time: Serbia 2-2 Portugal
Diogo Jota scores twice in the first half, but Serbia roared back after the break.
Full time: Slovakia 2-2 Malta
A superb result for Malta - but it could have been even better, as they were 2-0 up at half time.
Full time: Republic of Ireland 0-1 Luxembourg
Anyone for a chorus of Que Sera, Sera?
Updated
Full time: Czech Republic 1-1 Belgium
Romelu Lukaku’s 59th goal for Belgium earns them a point in Prague.
Republic of Ireland 0-1 Luxembourg Four minutes of added time.
“Hardest thing to accept about tonight,” says Niall O’Keeffe, “is that we have not got a prayer of finishing first or second in our group. After 2 games in. This is the first time in over 40 years of following Ireland that we have been ‘eliminated’ so early. Decimated squad but Kenny can’t go on can he?”
I’d be loath to sack him after less than a year, even allowing for this result. But it won’t be a surprise if he goes.
Republic of Ireland 0-1 Luxembourg Ireland will be savaged in the press, but I must say Luxembourg have been really impressive: neat, well organised and confident to the point of cockiness.
GOAL! Ireland 0-1 Luxembourg (Rodrigues 85)
Ireland are facing one of their greatest humiliations. Rodrigues picks up a loose ball 25 yards from goal, moves away from Cullen and rifles a superb snapshot into the far corner. Bazunu had no chance with that.
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Republic of Ireland 0-0 Luxembourg Ireland don’t really look like scoring. It’s been a desperate night for them.
With just over ten minutes remaining, all four games are level.
Group A
- Serbia 2-2 Portugal
- Republic of Ireland 0-0 Luxembourg
Group E
- Czech Republic 1-1 Belgium
Group H
- Slovakia 2-2 Malta
Republic of Ireland 0-0 Luxembourg A slightly arthritic overhead kick from Collins ripples the side netting. Moris had it covered but it was a good effort.
Republic of Ireland 0-0 Luxembourg It gives me no pleasure to say this, but Ireland are hanging on for a draw at home to Luxembourg.
The latest scores
Group A
- Serbia 2-2 Portugal
- Republic of Ireland 0-0 Luxembourg
Group E
- Czech Republic 1-1 Belgium
Group H
- Slovakia 2-2 Malta
Here’s Ian Copestake again “To put that scoreline in even more context, Rob, Malta are 176th in the Fifa world ranking, which is two places below Barry Glendenning.”
“Enjoying the sensational Malta story!” says Ian Copestake of a story that stopped being sensational about 15 minutes ago. “Is there a new found Brazilian connection there? Perhaps a Maltese Falcao!”
Republic of Ireland 0-0 Luxembourg The teenager Gavin Bazunu makes another good save, this time from Vincent Thill. Ireland are really struggling here.
GOAL! Serbia 2-2 Portugal (Kostic 60)
Serbia have turned it round! Filip Kostic calmly finished off a sweeping counter-attack to bring his side level. That really was a brilliant team goal.
Updated
GOAL! Czech Republic 1-1 Belgium (Lukaku 60)
The insatiable Romelu Lukaku has equalised for Belgium. That’s his 59th goal for his country, and he’s still only 27.
Updated
Republic of Ireland 0-0 Luxembourg Browne misses a good chance for Ireland, heading Brady’s free-kick just wide of the far post. At first I thought it was a bad miss but on reflection the ball was slightly behind him.
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GOAL! Slovakia 2-2 Malta (Skriniar 53)
The Maltese dream is dying in Trnava. A right-wing corner was flicked on at the near post and headed emphatically into the net by Milan Skriniar.
GOAL! Slovakia 1-2 Malta (Strelec 49)
Goals galore! David Strelec has scored early in the second half to give Slovakia hope against Malta.
GOAL! Czech Republic 1-0 Belgium (Provod 50)
Lukas Provod has put the Czech Republic ahead in Prague. It was a cracking goal, walloped past Courtois from long range.
GOAL! Serbia 1-2 Portugal (Mitrovic 46)
Your friend and mine, Alexsandar Mitrovic, has brought Serbia back into the match with a downward header from the substitute Nemanja Radonjic’s cross.
Republic of Ireland 0-0 Luxembourg In fact Ireland are still playing with a back three. Alan Browne has moved to right wing-back.
Peep peep! The second halves are under way. Ireland have made a half-time change: Robbie Brady is on for Matt Doherty, which suggests a switch to a back four.
“Malta,” says Claude Camilleri. “For us here, a draw is a miracle; a draw abroad is a sensational miracle. Winning is unusual; winning away is ehm, unheard of.”
Half-time reading
Peep peep! It’s half time in the four evening games. Portugal and Malta are having a very good night; Ireland are at risk of humiliation.
Group A
- Serbia 0-2 Portugal
- Republic of Ireland 0-0 Luxembourg
Group E
- Czech Republic 0-0 Belgium
Group H
- Slovakia 0-2 Malta
Republic of Ireland 0-0 Luxembourg Rodrigues, 30 yards out, spots Bazunu off his line and booms an up and under towards goal. Bazunu backpedals desperately and just manages to push the ball clear from under the crossbar. In the end it was a very good save.
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Republic of Ireland 0-0 Luxembourg Browne breaks into the area, taking Cullen’s cross in his stride, but his touch is slightly heavy and he runs the ball out of play under pressure from the keeper Moris.
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GOAL! Serbia 0-2 Portugal (Jota 36)
Diogo Jota gets his second. It was another accomplished header, flicked into the far corner from Cedric’s cross. Expertly done.
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Republic of Ireland 0-0 Luxembourg Ireland are really struggling to create chances. Anthony Moris made one terrific save, but apart from that he has had very little to do.
The latest scores
Group A
- Serbia 0-1 Portugal
- Republic of Ireland 0-0 Luxembourg
Group E
- Czech Republic 0-0 Belgium
Group H
- Slovakia 0-2 Malta
Republic of Ireland 0-0 Luxembourg Ireland’s tempo has been far too slow in the first half hour. If they’re not careful this could turn into a very difficult night.
“What are the odds of Malta winning?” wonders Peter Oh. “I bet no one expected Slovakia to have Gambin problems today.”
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Republic of Ireland 0-0 Luxembourg Ireland certainly aren’t having this all their own way. Luxembourg look a confident, well-organised side; Ireland, understandably, look nervous.
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Slovakia 0-2 Malta To put this scoreline in context, Slovakia are 36th in the Fifa world rankings. Malta are 176th.
GOAL! Slovakia 0-2 Malta (Satariano 20)
Sensational stuff in Trnava! The teenager Alexander Satariano has put Malta 2-0 ahead with a majestic header from Ryan Camenzuli’s excellent cross.
Updated
Republic of Ireland 0-0 Luxembourg A great chance for Ireland. Robinson beats his man on the left and hammers a superb low cross into the six-yard box. Collins slides it towards goal and Moris makes a brilliant reaction save with his legs.
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GOAL! Slovakia 0-1 Malta (Gambin 16)
Newport’s Luke Gambin has put Malta ahead in Trnava with a beautiful long-range curler!
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The latest scores in the four evening games
Group A
Serbia 0-1 Portugal
Republic of Ireland 0-0 Luxembourg
Group E
Czech Republic 0-0 Belgium
Group H
Slovakia 0-0 Malta
GOAL! Serbia 0-1 Portugal (Jota 11)
Portugal take an early lead in Belgrade. It was a simple goal, expertly created and finished. Bernardo Silva, on the right corner of the box, curled a deep cross towards Diogo Jota, who beat Marko Dmitrovic with a precise downward header. He is such an accomplished finisher.
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Republic of Ireland 0-0 Luxembourg It’s been a confident start from Luxembourg in Dublin. Vincent Thill, in particular, looks like he fancies it, and himself.
Czech Republic 0-0 Belgium It is hooning down in Prague. That’s all.
Ireland 0-0 Luxembourg The young goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu gets a nice early touch, saving comfortably from Vincent Thill’s long-range shot.
Peep peep! The four evening games are under way. Goals, please!
Here’s a round up of the earlier games, including another brilliant win for Turkey.
“Hoping for a draw between Czech Republic and Belgium,” says Matt Dony, “although I’m expecting a comfortable Belgium win. They’re probably on a mission, still smarting after conceding the greatest team goal in the history of international football...”
Full time: Croatia 1-0 Cyprus Mario Pasalic’s 40th-minute goal settled matters in Rijeka.
Full time: Norway 0-3 Turkey A sensational result for Turkey, who have now tonked their two main rivals in group G.
Full time: Belarus 4-2 Estonia A fine win for Belarus, who came from behind twice and then ran away with the game in the last 10 minutes.
Full time: Netherlands 2-0 Latvia Peep peep! A comfortable and much-needed win for the Netherlands. Steven Berghuis scored a beauty in the first half; Luuk de Jong applied his noggin for the second.
Croatia 1-0 Cyprus Croatia, the runners up in 2018, still lead through Mario Pasalic’s first-half goal. But they haven’t made the best start to the qualification campaign: they lost in Slovenia on Wednesday and are now labouring to victory against Cyprus.
GOAL! Belarus 4-2 Estonia (Lisakovich 83) Vitali Lisakovich gets his second!
Photograph: Dzianis Kastsiuchenka/Reuters
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GOAL! Belarus 3-2 Estonia (Savitski 81) Pavel Savitski has put Belarus ahead for the first time in the game!
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Norway 0-3 Turkey It gets worse for Norway: the substitute Kristian Thorstvedt has been given a straight red card for a studs-up tackle.
The latest scores
Group A
- Serbia v Portugal (7.45pm)
- Republic of Ireland v Luxembourg (7.45pm)
Group E
- Belarus 2-2 Estonia (5pm)
- Czech Republic v Belgium (7.45pm)
Group G
- Montenegro 4-1 Gibraltar (FT)
- Netherlands 2-0 Latvia (5pm)
- Norway 0-3 Turkey (5pm)
Group H
- Russia 2-1 Slovenia (FT)
- Croatia 1-0 Cyprus (5pm)
- Slovakia v Malta (7.45pm)
Republic of Ireland v Luxembourg team news
The teenage goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu makes his senior debut.
Republic of Ireland (3-5-2) Bazunu; Coleman, O’Shea, Clark; Doherty, Cullen, Knight, Browne, Stevens; Collins, Robinson.
Luxembourg (3-4-1-2) Moris; Jans, Chanot, Mahmutovic; O Thill, C Martins, Barreiro, M Martins; V Thill; Rodrigues, Sinani.
Updated
Czech Republic v Belgium team news
Czech Republic (4-1-4-1) Vaclik; Coufal, Celustka, Kudela, Boril; Holes; Provod, Soucek, Barak, Jankto; Krmencik.
Belgium (3-4-2-1) Courtois; Alderweireld, Denayer, Vertonghen; Castagne, Tielemans,, Dendoncker, Chadli; De Bruyne, Mertens; Lukaku.
GOAL! Netherlands 2-0 Latvia (de Jong 69)
The Netherlands have missed umpteen chances but they should be safe now. Luuk de Jong has scored the second with a thumping near-post header from a corner.
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Serbia v Portugal team news
Serbia (3-4-1-2) Dmitrovic; Milenkovic, S Mitrovic, Pavlovic; Lazovic, Milinkovic-Savic, Gudelj, Kostic; Tadic; Vlahovic, A Mitrovic.
Portugal (4-2-3-1) Lopes; Joao Cancelo, Ruben Dias, Fonte, Cedric; Sergio Oliveira, Danilo; B Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Jota; Ronaldo.
Updated
GOAL! Belarus 2-2 Estonia (Kendysh 64)
GOAL! Norway 0-3 Turkey (Tufan 59)
It gets better for Turkey! Ozan Tufan has scored his second of the game to put them 3-0 up in Malaga.
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Norway 0-2 Turkey The Turks have continued their spectacular start to the qualification campaign. They beat the Netherlands 4-2 on Wednesday, and now they lead 2-0 against Norway thanks to goals from Ozan Tufan and Leicester’s Caglar Soyuncu.
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Netherlands 1-0 Latvia The home side lead through a cracking goal from Steven Berghuis in the 32nd minute.
Preamble
<Big Brother bloke> Day three, and the battle for places at Qatar 2022 is hottin’ up</Big Brother bloke>. Okay, that’s a big fat lie. It’s not even lukewarm yet, but some of today’s matches could look extremely significant when the qualification groups are completed in November. Serbia v Portugal is likely to have a bearing on who wins Group A; in the same group, Republic of Ireland desperately need to beat Luxembourg and end their 18-month winless run.
Those games kick off at 7.45pm, as does the intriguing match between the Czech Republic and Belgium in Group E. But there are some important games going on as we speak, so let’s proceed directly to a list of the latest scores:
Group A
- Serbia v Portugal (7.45pm)
- Republic of Ireland v Luxembourg (7.45pm)
Group E
- Belarus 1-2 Estonia (5pm)
- Czech Republic v Belgium (7.45pm)
Group G
- Montenegro 4-1 Gibraltar (FT)
- Netherlands 1-0 Latvia (5pm)
- Norway 0-2 Turkey (5pm)
Group H
- Russia 2-1 Slovenia (FT)
- Croatia 1-0 Cyprus (5pm)
- Slovakia v Malta (7.45pm)
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