If this stellar weekend for Irish sport was Live Aid, then Gibraltar versus Ireland would be Status Quo — bottom of the bill, and everyone knows what to expect.

Given that Gibraltar have shipped 34 goals in six games and can’t even claim proper home advantage in these European Championship qualifiers, it’s fair to say that, balmy weather conditions apart, Ireland won’t exactly be walking into a footballing hothouse in the Estadio Algarve on Friday night.

Ahead of the resumption of European Championship qualifying with the game against Gibraltar in Faro on Friday, the Irish team will get its first taste of its new training base when they commence preparations at Abbotstown on Monday morning.

Sunday’s Euro 2016 qualifying draw may have been the first time most football fans in Ireland realised Gibraltar had an international team which actually played in qualifiers.

Portugal manager Paulo Bento will be forced to field a weakened backline in tomorrow’s friendly against Panama at the Estádio Algarve after central defenders Pepe and Bruno Alves pulled out through injury.

Middlesbrough striker Mido has admitted he may miss the club’s entire training camp in Portugal after encountering visa problems.

DICK ADVOCAAT will allow himself a wry smile as he sets about the task of preparing for a Euro 2004 semi-final showdown with Portugal.

Russia 2 Greece 1

Greece survived conceding the fastest ever goal in European Championships history to edge into the quarter-finals of Euro 2004 by the skin of their teeth.

Otto Rehhagel’s blend of German discipline and Greek character is what has taken his side to the brink of qualification for the Euro 2004 quarter-finals.

Greece will be without key midfielder Stelios Giannakopoulos as they attempt to secure their passage to the Euro 2004 quarter-finals against Russia.

The whole of Portugal heaved a collective sigh of relief following the host’s victory over Russia yesterday but they know there is far more nerve-jangling agony to come.

Hosts Portugal’s surprise defeat to Greece in the opening match of the tournament gave both Spain and Russia a huge incentive to go for victory in the second Group A game at the Estadio Algarve.

Striker Fernando Morientes insists nothing less than victory will be good enough when perennial under-achievers Spain face Russia in their opening Group A match tomorrow.