Unforgettable Portugal Cruise, England Continues Undefeated Run in World Cup Qualifiers
Lazio left-back Nuno Tavares highlighted the significance of Cristiano Ronaldo's 21st-minute goal for Portugal, as it came during a match where Jota wore the number 21 in honour of his late teammate Diogo Jota, who tragically passed away in a car accident. Ronaldo scored two goals in the match, taking his international tally to an impressive 140. Teammate Cancelo marked his goal by pointing to the skies in memory of Jota.
In another notable match, England defeated Andorra 2-0, extending their unbeaten run to four matches in Group K. However, the performance was underwhelming, with England lacking guile and intelligence in the final third of the match. The subdued crowd also played a role, according to manager Thomas Tuchel. Despite these concerns, Tuchel remains optimistic, stating that his team has learned a lot and will aim to prove a point in their upcoming match against Serbia, which he considers the toughest test of his reign.
England's lack of focus and concentration for 10 to 15 minutes after scoring the first goal was evident, as they lost it during Saturday's action. In contrast, Portugal, playing their first match since Jota's death, managed a convincing 5-0 win against Armenia. Joao Felix and Joao Cancelo also scored for Portugal in this emotional match.
Serbia sits second in their mini-league on seven points after edging Latvia 1-0 in Riga. Portugal's next opponents are Hungary, who drew 2-2 with the Republic of Ireland despite playing a man down for the last 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, Bosnia-Hercegovina routed San Marino 6-0 in Group H, and 16 European nations will qualify for the World Cup. Saturday's action also included Marcel Sabitzer's 54th-minute penalty earning Austria a 1-0 home win over Cyprus.
From Group F in the UEFA European qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, Portugal, Hungary, Ireland, and Armenia compete. With Portugal's strong performance, they are the strongest candidate to qualify directly for the tournament; the exact teams qualifying will depend on the final standings after all matches are played by March 2026.
Tuchel expects a more purposeful performance in the upcoming match against Serbia, which he considers the toughest test of his reign. The 12 group winners will qualify directly for the World Cup, while the four remaining berths will be determined by play-offs involving the 12 group runners-up for the expanded 48-team finals.
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