Portugal aim to get closer to qualifying for Euro 2024 in Slovakia

This Friday in Slovakia, Portugal are looking to get closer to qualifying for Euro 2024 and if they triumph, they will have their best start in qualifying for the final stage of a major competition.

After four victories, the national team advances to the fifth round at the head of Group J with 12 points, two more than second-placed Slovaks and five more than third-placed Luxembourg, a position that no longer gives access to next European tournament. Championship, which will be held next year in Germany.

A new triumph, this time in Bratislava, will allow Portugal to take even more first place in the group and have a better chance of celebrating qualification in October before a final double tour is scheduled for November.

Midfielder Rubén Neves, due to physical problems, is almost certainly excluded from the selection of Roberto Martinez, on that day in Portugal he could achieve an unprecedented record in qualifying for both the World Cup and the European Championship, taking his fifth triumph in the first five rounds.

After a 1-0 victory in Iceland in June, Martínez repeated the feat of António Oliveira in Euro 1996 qualifying with four consecutive victories at the start of Group 6.

The Portuguese national team will play in Slovakia for the third time in its history, adding a victory and a draw in Bratislava, always in the qualifying matches of the final stages of major competitions.

In the first ever clash between the two countries in 1998, Portugal won 3-0 in the Slovak capital in Euro 2000 qualifying, and in 2005, en route to the 2006 World Cup, both teams drew. (eleven).

The Slovakia-Portugal match is scheduled for 20:45 local time (19:45 Lisbon) at the National Stadium in Bratislava, the referee will be Swede Glenn Nyberg.

Three days later, on Monday, Portugal hosts Luxembourg in the Algarve.