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Portugal goes to Euro 2016; Denmark, Albania seek 2nd spot

Portugal progress to Euro 2016 with a slender 1-0 victory over Denmark in Group I. Meanwhile, if Denmark disappoint Portugal then it is at 9/2.

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Portugal began the match with some rather nervous touches and even Cristiano Ronaldo was guilty of a few misplaced passes.

Portugal felt they should have been awarded a penalty mid-way through the first half when Ronaldo went down inside the area, but the referee was not interested and waved play on.

Nani, under criticism for his underwhelming performances throughout qualifying, showed great athleticism to head a chipped pass from Moutinho onto the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area.

The Danish No1 could do nothing when Moutinho collected a clearance on the edge of the box, cut inside Daniel Agger and rifled the ball into the corner with his right foot.

Moutinho came closest to breaking the deadlock in an uneventful first half but his rasping drive from 25 yards whistled just over the top.

Bendtner rattled the outside of the post with a left-footed volley moments after the break, before Ronaldo and Tiago were both thwarted by Schmeichel. Denmark tried to get back in the game, and Kvist finally sent in a decent shot in the 76th minute, but it was straight at Rui Patricio.

A fan who uses a wheelchair is searched by police before the Group I Euro 2016 qualifying match between Albania and Serbia in Elbasan, central Albania, Thursday, October 8, 2015.

Bendtner also hit the woodwork after the interval, but it was all Portugal from there on.

Wins for Portugal and Albania can both qualify for the Euro 2016 tournament next summer with respective wins.

Portugal will play a “dead rubber” match against Serbia this Sunday in Belgrade.

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Live Stream: Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch Portugal vs. Denmark live online on ITV4 Player while viewers in the US can watch the match on Fox Sports Go.

Stuart Dallas