Portugal’s Struggles Highlight Key Absences in Defeat to Ireland

Portugal experienced a rare and untimely setback at the Aviva Stadium, succumbing to a 2-0 defeat against Ireland. Troy Parrott’s goals in the 17th minute and just before halftime exploited Portugal’s disorganized defense and a lack of fluidity in possession. Although Portugal controlled the game territorially, they struggled to create significant threats, consistently encountering Ireland’s disciplined low defensive block.

In the post-match interview, Coach Roberto Martinez acknowledged his team’s sluggish start, attributing their struggles to the absence of key players.

“We began the game very poorly; we missed Pedro Neto, Nuno Mendes, and Bruno Fernandes—players with whom we have established patterns,” he explained. “We allowed Ireland to score from a set piece, and just as the team began to improve, we conceded another goal. We lacked clarity and precision on the ball. Ireland plays in a safe manner, and conceding a goal presented us with numerous challenges. Everything that could go wrong, did go wrong, while everything favorable aligned for Ireland.”

As Portugal seemed to be finding their rhythm in the second half, a confrontation involving Cristiano Ronaldo and Dara O’Shea escalated, resulting in a VAR-upgraded red card—the first of Ronaldo’s storied 226-cap international career. This dismissal left Portugal a man down and extinguished any hopes of a comeback.

“In the second half, we tried everything; Cristiano’s sending off complicated the match further. I saw a lot of courage from the team, but this is a day to forget,” Martinez reflected.

Moreover, the absence of Nuno Mendes was notably felt. Martinez had previously lauded the PSG full-back as “the best in the world,” highlighting his unique blend of defensive skill and offensive capability.

In his earlier press briefing, Martinez remarked, “There’s no other left-back who can defend one-on-one, make overlapping runs, and play both inside and outside with the ball. He’s a complete player and a decisive element for both his club and for me.”

With no natural left-back available, Martinez opted for Diogo Dalot and Joao Cancelo, but neither could replicate Mendes’ defensive assurance and attacking contribution. After the match, he refrained from singling out individuals for blame, emphasizing that the performance was collective. “This isn’t a day to focus on individual players; both have been performing well for years. The strategy was to leverage the connection between Dalot and Felix, as they understand our concepts and system, as well as British football.”

As Portugal heads into their final qualifier, the path to qualification for the 2026 World Cup is clear: they must beat Armenia at home. Any other result risks pushing them into the playoffs, a scenario Martinez is keen to avoid.

Even after the loss, he urged for a broader perspective. “We aim to extend our unbeaten streak to 43 games. It’s not common to have 42 games without defeat. Now, if we secure a win at home, we qualify for the World Cup.”

To achieve this goal, Portugal needs to address several structural issues highlighted in Dublin. They must start matches more strongly, having conceded early in consecutive games, and improve their defensive organization during set pieces—an area Martinez himself acknowledged needing attention: “It’s true that we have conceded goals from corners in our last two matches.”

Furthermore, the team must regain fluidity in their attack, as the absences of Mendes and Neto have diminished their balance and unpredictability. The leadership group—comprising Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, and Ruben Dias—must step up in Ronaldo’s absence, ensuring both emotional stability and tactical improvement.

“We have one more game to qualify, and for that, we need to win,” Martinez concluded.