Ronaldo to cap off memorable individual week
Portugal will play hosts to the Republic of Ireland in the two sides' fourth and third FIFA World Cup Qualifiers respectively. Fernando Santos' charges are locked at the top of Group A on seven points with Serbia, and both already look immovable from their positions. The visitors were competitive in their 3-2 reverse to the latter team, but utterly abject in a humiliating 1-0 defeat at home to Luxembourg. A miracle is required to revive already distant hopes of a dramatic reversal of fortunes, and their trip to the Algarve is going to be the exact opposite of a holiday. Read our preview here:
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All eyes, even more intensely than ever, will be on Cristiano Ronaldo. The superstar forward has just sealed a late move back to Manchester United, and, fresh from that, will have his focus on another individual accolade - the undisputed sole top international men's scorer of all time. Currently tied with 109 with Iranian legendary striker Ali Daei, he ought to have plenty of ammunition to add to his dogged determination to ensure Wednesday night is when he achieves a new record. Bruno Fernandes, abject in the summer for his national side, will be his teammate for both club and country, and has started excellently for the former. Elsewhere, Leicester City's Ricardo Pereira was in similarly sparkling form before his injury at the weekend forced his withdrawal from the roster. João Cancelo, who missed Euro 2020 through his own woes on the sidelines, should come in at right-back in his place.
Shane Long and the short of it
The major issue for The Boys In Green is unfortunately a very familiar one. Namely, there is no stand-out player who can be relied upon to consistently both threaten and score on the biggest stage. Last year was the nadir - in eight games, they notched just once, and only a recent friendly win over minnows Andorra has provided the smallest crumb of comfort when it comes to the business end of the pitch. A glance around the current squad is symbolic of the depressing reality - Shane Long, now 34, is the leading goalscorer by some distance with 17, and while he has been a brilliant servant when called upon, he is not someone to spearhead the attack. Troy Parrott, on loan at Milton Keynes Dons from Tottenham Hotspur, has had a bright start to life in Buckinghamshire and in the emerald colours, but might be overlooked at the outset in favour of Brighton & Hove Albion's Aaron Connolly, who has yet to break his international duck.
Doctored Doherty
The visitors' 3-5-2 is proof positive of the limit of their personnel and their realistic ambitions against Portugal. That is no disgrace, but their standing in Group A is already quite dire. Enda Stevens and Matt Doherty on the flanks will have their work cut out to advance with the ball meaningfully, and might be virtual statues to a stranglehold in the middle of the park, where it will be incumbent on A Seleção to tee up their demanding talisman. Ronaldo is 4.50 with Casumo to score two or more goals.
