5 key talking points as the Republic of Ireland prepare to face Portugal

Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for free Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Interim boss John O’Shea will once again lead the Republic of Ireland in Tuesday evening’s testing friendly against Euro 2024 finalists Portugal. The former Manchester United and Ireland defender, who took charge of March’s friendlies against Belgium and Switzerland, will hope to build upon last week’s 2-1 win over Hungary when he sends his team into battle with Cristiano Ronaldo and company in Aveiro. O’Shea, as befits a man who won 118 caps for his country as a redoubtable defender, many of them under the intensely pragmatic Giovanni Trapattoni, has made his team more difficult to beat during a three-game reign which has encompassed one draw, one defeat and one win with just two goals conceded. The pair spent six seasons together at Manchester United before the Portugal superstar’s £80million departure for Real Madrid, winning the Champions League, three Premier League titles, the FA Cup and two League Cups together.