Portugal
Manager: Roberto Martinez
Star player: Cristiano Ronaldo
Current form: Portugal went through their recent Nations League group stages unbeaten – finishing top of Group 1 in League A after achieving four wins (over Scotland, Croatia and Poland twice) and two draws (Scotland, Croatia). Their last two games in the competition were those consecutive draws but the Portuguese were already well on their way to the knockout stages by then.
In the 2024 European Championships Portugal’s competition came to an end at the quarter-final stages where they lost to France after a penalty shoot-out. They had topped their group with wins over Czech Republic and Turkey, but did suffer a surprise 2-0 defeat to Georgia in their final round-robin fixture. Portugal beat Slovenia 3-0 in the round-of-16 to set up a quarter-final with France. It remains to be seen what influence Ronaldo will have on Portugal in the near future.
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Last three fixtures between the countries: 3-0 Portugal win (friendly, 2024); 0-0 (World Cup qualifier, 2021), 2-1 Portugal win (World Cup qualifier, 2021)
Denmark
Manager: Brian Riemer
Star player: Andreas Christensen
Current form: Denmark’s form has been somewhat patchy, not helped by the uncertainty around the managerial position. Kasper Hjulmand stepped down after a winless appearance by Denmark at Euro 2024, with Morten Wieghorst subsequently handed the role on an interim basis until the end of the calendar year. However, the former Denmark player had to take a step back for personal reasons and Lars Knudsen was then briefly at the helm before former Anderlecht coach Brian Riemer was appointed manager at the end of October.
Despite all that upheaval Denmark negotiated a path from Group 4 in League A to the knockout stages of the Nations League following two wins (over Switzerland, Serbia), two draws (Switzerland, Serbia) and two losses, both to Spain.
Since Denmark beat Ireland 5-1 in Dublin in a World Cup playoff in 2017, the sides have played out four draws.
Last three fixtures between the countries: 1-1 (Euro qualifier, 2019); 1-1 (Euro qualifier, 2019); 0-0 (Nations League, 2018)
Hungary
Manager: Marco Rossi
Star player: Dominik Szoboszlai
Current form: Hungary finished third in Group 3 of League A during the recent Nations League campaign – behind Germany and Netherlands, but ahead of Bosnia and Herzegovina. They picked up just one win from their six games – a 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina. They also played out three draws – with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Germany, Netherlands. However, Hungary shipped heavy defeats to Germany (5-0) and Netherlands (4-0). Their last fixture in the competition was a 1-1 draw with Germany, in which Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai netted a later equaliser.
Hungary competed at Euro 2024, and while they beat Scotland defeats to Germany and Switzerland meant they failed to make it beyond the group stages.
Last three fixtures between the countries: 2-1 Ireland win (friendly, 2024); 0-0 (friendly, 2021); 0-0 (friendly 2012)
Armenia
Manager: Suren Chakhalyan (temporary manager)
Star player: Lucas Zelarayán
Current form: Armenia finished second in Group 4 of League C in the Nations League with seven points, behind table-toppers North Macedonia (16pts) but ahead of Faroe Islands (6pts) and Latvia (4pts). Armenia’s only two wins came against Latvia – they failed to overcome Faroe Islands in their two meetings. Faroe Islands actually won in Armenia, while the sides played out a 2-2 draw in Tórshavn.
There has been quite a bit of instability at the helm in Armenia recently with Oleksandr Petrakov fired following their 2-0 defeat at the hands of North Macedonia in October.
Armenia put a significant dent in Stephen Kenny’s Ireland project when beating his side 1-0 in a Nations League clash in 2022.
Last three fixtures between the countries: 3-1 Ireland win (Nations League, 2022); 1-0 Armenia win (Nations League, 2022); 2-1 Ireland win (Euro qualifier, 2011)
Ends
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