The World Cup qualifying draw took place in FIFA headquarters in Zurich on Monday in a behind-closed-doors ceremony due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Portugal were seeded in the top tier and have been handed a seemingly negotiable section, alongside Serbia, Republic of Ireland, Luxembourg and Azerbaijan. The winners of Group A qualify automatically for World Cup 2022, with the runners-up going into a playoff to make the tournament.

Later in the week it was confirmed hosts Qatar will also compete in the group as part of their preparations, with Portugal’s “away” game against the Middle Eastern nation played at a neutral venue in Europe, to be arranged. 

With the Covid-19 vaccines on their way there is real hope that all walks of society can get back to normality by mid-2021. That would be just in time for what could be a spectacular European Championship, where Portugal will attempt to defend the crown they won in 2016 in France.

The one-year delayed Euros will be staged at a variety of venues all over the continent, and the fact it will likely be the first major international tournament which fans can attend since the outbreak of the pandemic will only add to the excitement and buzz around the event. That is even before we talk about the mouth-watering clashes in store, none more so than in Group F, Portugal’s section and an authentic “group of death”. 

Portugal beat Netherlands 2-1 as the 2021 UEFA European U21 Championship qualifiers came to a close in Portimão. Fábio Vieira scored both goals for Rui Jorge’s side who will gain plenty of confidence by beating a Dutch outfit that had proved unstoppable.

Croatia 2-3 Portugal

The Seleção rounded off their Nations League campaign with a 3-2 win against Croatia in Split, in a matched marked by a poor playing surface and defensive mistakes from both teams.

The home side took a first-half lead through Mateo Kovacic, but the game changed when Croatia’s Marko Rog picked up a second yellow card and was sent off shortly after the break. Two quick goals followed for Portugal through Dias and João Félix, but a fine strike by Kovacic seemed to have earned Croatia a draw.

Rúben Dias had other ideas. The Manchester City defender, who had never previously scored for his country, showed good awareness to notch his second goal of the game with a last-minute winner.