EM test match, Tuesday, 11.06.2024
With big inviting gestures, the bookmakers welcome us to their respective betting shops to taste their European Championship bonus offers and at the same time familiarize us with the betting offer for the last international matches before the European Championship 2024 will start very soon.
When researching the various offers ahead of this final test match stage, I marked various games in red on my notepad.
I’m sticking with the Iberians in my Portugal Ireland betting tip this time, after successfully betting my money against them a few days ago
In this first half of June, I have already provided you with many a profitable prediction in which the respective underdog even managed to pull off a surprising victory.
This applies primarily to my Portugal Croatia tip and my Sweden Serbia tip. But in the end, a close look at the circumstances was the decisive factor for my successful free bets for the European Championship.
In the case of Portugal, I remain of the opinion that the team could return to the throne of Europe’s best national team within eight years after 2016.
However, the “Seleção” have three test matches scheduled for this month and, given the fact that they were still to play Ireland, it was clear to me early on that they would not play their best soccer against the Balkan kickers last Saturday.
For the Croatians, on the other hand, it was already the dress rehearsal before the start of the European Championship, so it was clear to me that the Balkan kickers – additionally driven by the motivation of being able to win their first international match against Portugal – would give their all.
Croatia’s 2:1 win was basically okay, but it was obvious that the 4-3-3 system the Iberians used against the red-and-white tiled team was completely different to the one used a few days earlier in their 4:2 win over Finland.
The full back three of Silva, Ramos and João Félix was much weaker, while Cancelo and Neves were replaced by Dalot and Fernandes on the Portuguese right.
Clearly, this was not Portugal at their best
Which Portugal will we see against Ireland on Tuesday? That is of course the crucial question, which is also the focus of my Portugal Ireland betting tip.
I strongly suspect that we will see the 2016 European champions at their best this time – for several reasons.
There is still just under a week to go until the start of the European Championship, so there is plenty of time to recover from a maximum workload. This game is also the final dress rehearsal and therefore the last opportunity to test themselves, and in front of their own fans
The fact is that if the Portuguese get serious and show their full footballing potential, Ireland will not be able to put up much of a fight. The 2016 European champions are simply too strong for that.
However, coach John O’Shea must be complimented, as his “Boys in Green” managed to secure their first victory over a national team not named Gibraltar since March 2023 with their 2:1 win over Hungary a few days ago.
Nevertheless, this sad fact in particular shows that the Irish still have a lot of work to do if they are to be considered for participation in a major tournament again in the long term. Even the 2026 World Cup in North America could come too soon for them
Watch out: The last eight nations to visit Portugal in test matches have all left with a defeat and at least two goals conceded on the score sheet.
During this period, the Seleção have also scored an average of 4.25 goals, meaning that the Irish are unlikely to come out of the affair as well as the Icelanders did in November 2023, when they “only” lost 2-0 in Lisbon.
Interestingly, the last two head-to-head meetings were not that long ago. They crossed paths a year earlier on the road to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with Ireland performing surprisingly well on both occasions (0-0 at home, 1-2 away).
The Portuguese will certainly want to flex their muscles! If only to prove to their critics that what was only their second international defeat since the start of the 2023 calendar year was just a harmless blip.
What suits me is the fact that, after the defeat to Croatia, the betting companies are now unsure whether we will actually see the best version of the 2016 European champions on Tuesday.
Accordingly, the sharp disparity within the Portugal Ireland odds that prevailed at the start has now been evened out somewhat.
Nevertheless, with win odds for Portugal of around 1.52, there’s no denying that the European Championship participants are still expected to win significantly more.
And this offer is definitely suitable for a single bet. Especially as there is no reason for me personally to be suspicious.
Because I firmly believe that the Iberians will show their full potential in their own stadium and expose the Irish win rate for what it is in my eyes: a deceptive mirage with no real prospect of success!
Conclusion: If Portugal wants to, it can beat the Irish badly. In any case, even after the Croatia game, there is no doubt in my mind that this team remains my personal “dark horse” for the European Championship in Germany.
Ireland may have just celebrated a small victory over Hungary, which this team desperately needed in view of the many setbacks of recent months.
However, I doubt that Irish soccer legend O’Shea has been able to successfully prepare his team for an intense clash with this footballing superpower in such a short space of time.
My Portugal Ireland tip: Portugal win & Over 2.5 goals
