A win here on thursday will move them above Denmark if Portugal can get the win over Denmark and a win for Albania would also guarantee themselves an automatic spot if Denmark lose.
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Portugal has confirmed their top spot after beating Denmark while Serbia is out of the running to qualify for France.
Just like in Copenhagen a year ago – when Cristiano Ronaldo’s 95th-minute header won it 1-0 – there was little between the teams.
With their place in next summer’s finals already assured, Portugal coach Fernando Santos allowed talisman Cristiano Ronaldo extra time off before returning to club side Real Madrid.
There was little difference between the teams throughout the match. Adam Ljajic is their top scorer with 2 goals in 4 matches for Serbia.
In Albania, tension was high for Serbia’s visit following a match a year ago between the countries that was interrupted by violence.
11 October 2015 at 21:30 IST.
The result means Denmark’s own qualification hopes hang in the balance as Albania look to finish in second place. Joao Moutinho, in his first match back after a lengthy absence due to injury, scored the victor with a fine, curling effort and Portugal exhibited another strong defensive performance to shut down Denmark in front of a full house at the Quarry in Braga.
Serbia have been very poor this time in the qualifiers as they haven’t performed well at all as they lost four of the seven they have played, winning two and drawing one.
Things got even worse for Serbia late on, as Aleksandar Kolarov and Nemanja Matic were dismissed, ending their campaign with the same ill-discipline with which it started.
Meanwhile, in qualifiers for EURO 2008 they played a draw 1-1 twice.
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Portugal had to fight back from a shock home defeat in its opening qualifier, when it was upset 1-0 at home by Albania and coach Paulo Bento stepped down. According to Monaco’s Silva, the Euros are a game-by-game type of tournament, and despite his belief that Portugal is one of the great teams to advance, there are other great teams out there.
