Of the six visits to Dublin, only two had official contours, and Portugal lost the first, in 1995, in the qualification for Euro 1996, and tied for the second, in 2001, on the way to the Mundial2002.

Faced with this scenario, it remains to be seen which of the sayings will apply to the next game: if “the third, it’s time” or if “there is no two without three”.

In April 1995, the national team, then guided by António Oliveira, left the Irish capital defeated 1-0, blamed on an own goal by Vítor Baía at half-time, after a shot by Steve Staunton and a simulation by John Aldridge.

However, seven months later, Portugal avenged itself for the defeat and stamped its presence at Euro1996, thanks to a 3-0 victory in a crowded Estádio da Luz that witnessed, in the rain, the monumental “hat” of Rui Costa to the guard -networks

Alan Kelly, before Hélder Cristóvão and Jorge Cadete fixed the result.

On the second official visit to Dublin, and again under the command of António Oliveira, the quinas team drew 1-1 in 2001, with Roy Keane opening the scoring for the Irish and Luís Figo restoring equality for the Portuguese team.

The two teams ended up at the top of the qualifying group with the same points and confirmed qualification for the 2002 World Cup, which took place in South Korea and Japan.

In the remaining four meetings in Dublin, all of a particular character, Portugal won two and lost as many others. In 1947, they won 2-0, with goals from Jesus Correia and António Araújo, and in 1996 they won 1-0, thanks to a goal from António Folha.

The two defeats occurred in 1949 and 2005, both by 1-0.

Overall, a national team has faced the Republic of Ireland on 14 occasions, in which they have eight wins, four defeats and two draws.

The last match took place just over two months ago, at Estádio Algarve, with Cristiano Ronaldo proving to be decisive in the 2-1 triumph, by signing, at 89 and 90 + 6 minutes, the “bis” that links the team corners to go around the marker.

Portugal and the Republic of Ireland play on Thursday, from 19:45, in Dublin, in the penultimate meeting of the Portuguese team in Group A qualifying for the Mundial2022.