Portugal supervisor Roberto Martinez has stated Cristiano Ronaldo’s dismissal for elbowing Eire defender Dara O’Shea was undeserved.
Together with his staff 2-0 behind in 2026 World Cup qualifying in Dublin, five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo noticed pink within the 61st minute after referee Glenn Nyberg consulted the pitchside monitor following a Video Assistant Referee assessment on the incident inside Eire’s field.
“We talked,” Martinez advised RTP, by way of Record. “It’s troublesome for a participant like Cristiano… he had fixed contact, with the defenders grabbing him.
“There’s no violence – he tries to push them away. He was unfortunate. The angle of the photographs makes it worse than what really occurred.
“It’s his first pink card for the nationwide staff. It’s unbelievable.”
Cristiano Ronaldo pink card
Captain Ronaldo obtained his first international pink card on his 226th Selecao look. “What I advised him was ‘we’re getting ready for the following recreation, you’ve gained many with the nationwide staff,’” stated Martinez.
“What occurred is what occurs in soccer. The response was good: we fought, we confirmed braveness. Now it’s time to arrange for the following one.”
Ronaldo seemed to be infuriated whereas the test happened earlier than exchanging phrases with dwelling boss Heimir Hallgrimsson as he slowly made his approach off.
Portugal are assured a spot on the finals within the US, Canada and Mexico subsequent yr in the event that they win at dwelling on Sunday to Armenia, who’ve misplaced 4 of their 5 qualifiers within the marketing campaign.
Ronaldo and Joao Felix every scored twice alongside a purpose by Joao Felix when Portugal gained 5-0 in Armenia on September 6.
Eire vs Portugal ‘a recreation to neglect’
Troy Parrott scored twice within the first half to make sure Portugal’s qualification bid will go to their ultimate recreation at Porto’s Estadio do Dragao.
“It occurs in soccer,” stated Martinez. “It’s a recreation to neglect. The whole lot that might go flawed did go flawed.
“It went effectively for Eire. We talked about set-pieces, transitions… we lacked objective [but] we fought till the top.
“The final 20 minutes have been filled with coronary heart. We’ve got to just accept that Eire deserved to win. Now we glance to Sunday.
“We’d like the power of the stadium. We all know we are able to depend on that. We glance to the final recreation to substantiate qualification.”
Martinez added that he had changed Joao Cancelo with Nelson Semedo as a result of the competition was an “emotional recreation”.
“Cancelo had a yellow card,” he defined. “It was to eradicate the danger of shedding him. We are able to use what the sport wants.”
Republic of Eire beginning lineup vs Portugal
Burnley captain Josh Cullen missed Eire’s 1-0 dwelling win over Armenia on October 14 via suspension however the midfielder returned this time.
Jayson Molumby was banned and Mark Sykes, Jason Knight, Will Smallbone, Evan Ferguson and Robbie Brady have been injured.
Goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher saved a Ronaldo penalty when Eire misplaced 1-0 in Portugal on October 11.
Republic of Eire beginning XI: Caoimhin Kelleher, Seamus Coleman, Nathan Collins, Dara O’Shea, Jake O’Brien, Liam Scales, Finn Azaz, Jack Taylor, Josh Cullen, Chiedozie Ogbene, Troy Parrott
Eire substitutes: Gavin Bazunu, Johnny Kenny, Adam Idah, Jimmy Dunne, Kevin O’Toole, Andrew Moran, John Egan, Conor Coventry, Jamie McGrath, Mikey Johnston, Festy Ebosele, Mark Travers
Troy Parrott’s purpose that has given us the lead!
🇮🇪 1-0 🇵🇹
pic.twitter.com/1iAsTE9fSt— Eire Soccer ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) November 13, 2025
Portugal beginning lineup vs Eire
Chelsea’s Pedro Neto and Sporting Lisbon’s Pedro Goncalves have withdrawn from the Portugal squad however Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Joao Neves returned from damage.
Portugal beginning XI: Diogo Costa, Joao Cancelo, Ruben Dias, Goncalo Inacio, Diogo Dalot, Joao Neves, Vitinha, Ruben Neves, Bernardo Silva, Cristiano Ronaldo, Joao Felix
Portugal substitutes: Rui Silva, Nelson Semedo, Antonio Silva, Joao Palhinha, Carlos Forbs, Goncalo Ramos, Joao Carvalho, Renato Veiga, Trincao, Rafael Leao, Matheus Nunes, Francisco Conceicao
Portugal World Cup 2026 qualifying path
The highest staff from every of the 12 European Qualifier teams proceeds routinely to the finals, which shall be expanded to 48 groups.
The 12 runners-up in every group will be part of 4 Nations League groups within the play-offs, which shall be drawn from pots based mostly on groups’ information through the marketing campaign. The video games will comprise single-leg semi-finals and finals.
The draw for the World Cup finals will happen in December 2025. The event runs from June 11 till July 19 2026.
