Portugal gained some confidence for Euro 2024 after recording a convincing 3-0 victory against Republic of Ireland at Estádio Municipal de Aveiro.

João Félix was denied by Caoimhín Kelleher early on before getting another opportunity in the 18th minute, this time finding the net after his shot took a deflection past the goalkeeper.

Roberto Martínez made five substitutions at half time and five minutes later his side doubled their advantage. Rúben Neves picked out Cristiano Ronaldo, the 39-year-old stepping inside Liam Scales and sending a left-footed shot into the top corner.

Ronaldo found the net again ten minutes later, Diogo Jota doing well to get past two opponents and picked out Ronaldo who swept the ball past Kelleher.

Portugal closed out the game with confidence, the Seleção enjoying a solid runout with players gaining confidence before their European Championship campaign begins against Czech Republic.

Roberto Martínez is definitively a cup-half-full kind of guy.

“The match against Croatia was perfect from the point of view of our preparation for Euro 2024,” the Seleção coach said today, ahead of Portugal’s final friendly before the tournament against the Republic of Ireland in Aveiro tomorrow.

A disappointing performance and a 2-1 defeat may not sound like ideal preparation but the Spaniard insisted: “today we are a better prepared team than before the Croatia match.” 

Portugal’s immaculate qualifying campaign for Euro 2024 raised expectations of a triumphant tournament in Germany among fans and many pundits, but the unbridled optimism was given a sharp reality check yesterday.

Against Croatia, by far the highest-quality team the Seleção have faced in the Roberto Martínez era, Portugal were largely outplayed, lost 2-1 and were grateful to goalkeeper Diogo Costa for not suffering a larger margin of defeat.

Centre-back Rúben Dias, in typically forthright fashion, said the players must put their egos to one side, focus on the collective and correct what went wrong if Portugal want to enjoy a successful European Championship. 

Portugal’s ambitions for the 2024 European Championship took a blow at Estádio Nacional where they suffered a disappointing 2-1 defeat against Croatia.

Vitinha conceded an early penalty that Luka Modrić converted with confidence, Ante Budimir heading wide before break.

Roberto Martínez made four substitutions at half-time, his side equalising three minutes later when Nélson Semedo’s cross provided Diogo Jota with a tap in.

Croatia regained the lead in the 56th minute when Mario Pašalić rattled the bar, the ball bouncing back into play where Ante Budimir was first to react and head past Diogo Costa.

Vitinha’s deflected strike forced a save from Dominik Livaković but that was as close as the Seleção came to restoring parity, Luka Sučić unable to beat Costa with the last chance of the match.

The Seleção turn their attention to a final friendly against Republic of Ireland, the match taking place in Aveiro on Tuesday when Pepe, Rúben Neves and Cristiano Ronaldo are likely to get some playing time before the plane departs for Germany.