Internationals | Portugal and Ireland on verge of Euro 2020 qualification

14th October 2019

Wolves’ Portuguese trio of Rui Patricio, Joao Moutinho and Ruben Neves helped put their county on the verge of Euro 2020 qualification after they overcame Luxembourg in Lisbon.

Stopper Patricio and midfield maestro Moutinho were in the match from the start on Friday night as Bernardo Silva, Cristiano Ronaldo and Goncalo Guedes’ goals secured a 3-0 win.

Neves then replaced fellow Wolves midfielder Moutinho in the dying moments of the match, with Portugal now guaranteed a spot in Euro 2020 if they beat Ukraine in Kiev on Monday evening and Serbia fail to win.

Patrick Cutrone earnt a recall to the Italy under-21 side and played the second-half of his team’s goalless draw in Dublin against a Republic of Ireland outfit which included fellow Wolves player Connor Ronan – currently on loan at Slovakian club FC DAC.

Cutrone will now return to Yerevan, the city where he made his Wolves debut, as the Azzurrini face Armenia on Monday.

Matt Doherty made the switch to left-back for the senior Republic of Ireland team on Saturday as the Irish drew 0-0 with Georgia in Tbilisi.

After missing the September internationals through injury, Doherty and Ireland, under the leadership of former Wolves boss Mick McCarthy, could secure Euro 2020 qualification if they beat Switzerland at the Stade de Geneve on Tuesday evening.

Leander Dendoncker missed both of Belgium’s matches as his side became the first to qualify for next summer’s Euro 2020 championships.

Moved out of the team due to illness, Dendoncker was not in the Belgium squad for either of their victories over San Marino on Thursday or Kazakhstan on Sunday, as the Red Devils maintained their 100 per cent record in qualifying.

Finally, Ruben Vinagre was an unused substitute in Portugal under-21’s 4-2 defeat against Netherlands on Friday.

Wolves internationals October fixtures

Patricio, Moutinho, Neves (Portugal): UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifying