Portugal’s expected passage through to the World Cup 2026 finals was delayed in spectacular fashion on Thursday as they were stunned by the Republic of Ireland. The heroic Boys in Green pulled off a 2-0 victory thanks to a Troy Parrott double and, in an action packed clash, Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off.
On a sensational night at the Aviva Stadium, former Tottenham Hotspur star Parrott struck twice in the opening half; and midway through the second half CR7 was judged to have elbowed Ireland centre back Dara O Shea and off he went for an early bath.
The result blew Group F wide open with Portugal two points clear of Hungary at the top, with Ireland a point further back, and the second and third teams meet at the Puskas Arena on Sunday with a play-off place up for grabs. The Boys in Green have not qualified for a World Cup finals since 2002 and have missed the last two European Championships so this was a huge night for the Irish, particularly their star man. AZ Alkmaar star Parrott said this was the best night of his life as he kept Ireland’s slim qualification hopes alive.
Meanwhile, the World Cup 2026 betting odds pitch the Selecao as one of the European teams with a genuine chance to win the tournament; but now Portugal needs a result against Armenia on Sunday to secure their passage to through to the American showcase. And they will be without their talisman.
Mbappe fires France to finals
While one world megastar had a nightmare on Thursday another had a rather better night as France’s Kylian Mbappe scored twice, also racking up the 400th goal of his glittering career, to take Les Bleus to the USA thanks to a 4-0 win over Ukraine.
In a frustrating first half at the Parc des Princes the hosts failed to break down their valiant visitors, who didn’t register a shot at all in the first 45 while France had ten efforts. But Real Madrid’s red hot Mbappe opened the floodgates on 55 minutes when he slotted home a penalty after Taras Mykhavko chopped down Michael Olise, and the defender picked up a yellow card for his troubles. The second came on 76 minutes when the veteran midfield anchor N’Golo Kante teed up Olise and the Bayern Munich winger made no mistake, firing into the bottom left corner. Mbappe’s second was his 400th in all competitions and Liverpool star Hugo Ekitike made it four with a superb individual goal, dribbling from the half way line before sliding the ball under the advancing keeper.
Didier Deschamps side, one of the favourites to win the tournament, have booked their place at the finals, alongside England and Croatia, while Germany and Denmark still have work to do. But two more hopeful European sides are very close to joining Les Bleus in Canada, Mexico and the USA.
Netherlands and Norway on the brink
In other World Cup 2026 news Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands inched closer to qualification after they avoided defeat in a top two clash in Group G. The Oranje are three points clear with one game to play and a much better goal difference, while Poland are guaranteed a play-off place.
In my SBOTOP preview of Poland versus the Netherlands I went for Poland or Draw and when Jakub Kaminski gave the hosts a half time lead in Warsaw it was certainly looking good. Robert Lewandowski broke away and he fed Kaminski who fired home from the edge of the penalty area. That goal, on 43 minutes, will certainly have changed the half time team talks; but they went out of the window as the Oranje hit back two minutes into the second half when Donyell Malen’s shot was parried and Memphis Depay reacted the quickest to steer the ball home.
A win over Lithuania on Monday will see the Netherlands through while Poland take on Malta with both nations expected to pick up three points.
Norway are even closer to qualification and Italy look destined for another play-off after the Norwegians slapped Estonia 4-1 and the Azzurri beat Moldova 2-0. The two nations face off in Milan on Sunday and Italy need an 18 goal swing in their favour…not impossible but very, very nearly. Norway kept their 100 per cent record intact as they plundered four goals in 12 second half minutes, two each for Erling Haaland and Alexander Sorloth, while Gianluca Mancini and 20 year old Francisco Pio Esposito were on target for Italy.
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