Portugal are on the verge of qualifying for next year’s European football championships after beating Albania last night in a close-fought encounter. That means, that as it stands, unbeaten Albania would go straight through to France if they finish third.

One of those was the fiery abandoned contest with Serbia that Albania were awarded a 3-0 win for, but with Armenia and Serbia on just a point after five games of qualifying, Portugal, Denmark and Albania, the lowest-ranked side in the group at the start of qualifying, are all guaranteed at least a playoff. Denmark has 12 while Albania has 11, but both Portugal and Albania have a game in hand.

Victory here against the Portuguese would set them up to secure a top-two place as their final two games of the group are against struggling duo Serbia and Armenia. We look at the team news for Fernando Santos’ side.

However, they won the match with a very late knockout punch, which the hosts certainly did not deserve.

The midfielder rose on the edge of the six-yard area to meet a free-kick, and he clinically headed home to take the three points in a classic smash and grab. Tiago is suspended after being sent off against Armenia in their last qualifying tie. While I like the price on Portugal here away from home I worry about their attack who looked out of sync against France and have struggled to really fire in these qualifiers with Ronaldo scoring five of their seven goals.

Eder will continue to lead the line for Portugal up-front with Nani on the other side of the flank.

Jose Fonte is likely to partner Pepe in the defence in place of Ricardo Carvalho. His mere presence on the field will make this a much bigger test than that which Albania overcame last September. You may think Portugal are strong favorites, but write Albania off at your peril: They’ve been transformed under the management of Italian coach Gianni De Biasi, who has been in charge for four years.

Before that, they had lost four of five against A Seleccao.

Portugal avenged their shock defeat by the Albanians in the reverse fixture at home after Veloso rescued them from a series of misses by Cristiano Ronaldo in Elbasan.