Ireland v Portugal tips: Alan Cawley's 4 flutters include a 14/1 shout

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Portugal have a game in hand over Serbia going into the last game so it’s a huge one for them, as they’re a point behind Serbia and have to get a result against Ireland on Thursday night. So there’s pressure on that alone. To be fair, if you look at that game away at Portugal, I think Stephen Kenny and the Irish team can take huge confidence from that because the pattern of the game will be very similar.

Portugal will look to take control and you’d expect for us to sit in and be well organised like we were for the away fixture but to hit them on the counter-attack and we did that really, really well and just couldn’t take the chances.

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Obviously Aaron Connolly won’t be involved and he was a major threat on the night with his pace but, I think if you look at the introduction of Callum Robinson into the team over the last games, he has huge confidence and I think he can be very important for the game as well.

Finally Stephen is getting all his players fit and the players that he wants in terms of a settled team. Up to now with Covid and injuries and all sorts of distractions he’s had to chop and change with a lot of the personnel but he’s finally getting eight, nine, 10 of the players that he wants onto the pitch.

Thursday 7.45pm: Ireland v Portugal

TV: RTÉ2, Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football

I think we can cause Portugal problems. In the away fixture we did that and it could have worked out better but for that man himself, the superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo. I’d be looking at the Ireland (+1) handicap as I give them a chance of hopefully, maybe, getting a draw.

One thing about this Irish team is that we’re very, very sound defensively. You look at the keepers, Gavin Bazunu and Caoimhin Kelleher, they’re very, very good. We’re very sound defensively so there’s lot to build from. I’d give us a very good chance and I’d be hopeful of maybe picking up a Draw.

I think it will be a 1-1 Draw. In terms of a goal scorer, Callum Robinson comes into the game with a lot of confidence so he’s probably the pick in terms of who’s the most likely to score for us.

In terms of a punter’s view, I think set pieces will be crucial in this game as well and if our delivery is good, which it generally is, then you’d expect someone like a Shane Duffy or John Egan to be in the reckoning. I’m going to go for Duffy to Score Anytime, hopefully from a free kick or a corner.