Slovak Whistle, Missed Penalty: Portugal Edges Ireland in Lisbon

On 11 October 2025, in a World Cup-qualifying tie at Lisbon’s Estádio José Alvalade, Portugal’s latest step toward the 2026 finals looked routine on the scoreboard yet left plenty of talking points in the stands. A last-gasp header from Rúben Neves secured a 1-0 victory over Ireland, but it was the presence of Slovak referee Ivan Kružliak—and one critical penalty decision—that dominated post-match chatter across the country.

A narrow escape in Alvalade

Few inside Alvalade expected the night to feel so tense. Portugal fired 30 shots, generated an xG above 3.00, and still needed stoppage-time heroics to beat a resolute Irish side. When Cristiano Ronaldo saw his second-half penalty saved by Caoimhín Kelleher, groans rippled through the crowd. The miss was Ronaldo’s third failed spot-kick for the seleção in regulation play, underscoring how thin the margin for error has become in a qualifying campaign likely to be decided on the finest details.

Who is Ivan Kružliak?

At 41, the Bratislava-born official is no stranger to high-stakes fixtures. A FIFA referee since 2011, he has worked Champions League nights, UEFA Nations League showdowns and even served as fourth official in the 2024 Europa League final. His reputation is that of a disciplinarian: partial season data from 2015-2025 shows an average of 5-7 yellow cards per match and a willingness to award penalties when VAR supports his view. The Portugal-Ireland game marked his first appointment with Portugal’s senior team, although Sporting and Benfica supporters may remember him from European club outings.

What irritated the Irish camp?

Irish pundits left Lisbon fuming over Kružliak’s call in the 67th minute. The referee pointed to the spot after a Trincão shot struck defender Dara O’Shea’s arm at close range. VAR backed the on-field ruling, but Republic coach Stephen Kenny branded the decision “bewildering” and hinted at a bias toward the hosts. Irish media even floated the word “investigation”, though UEFA sources have offered no indication of disciplinary reviews. Portuguese analysts, meanwhile, noted that the law has tightened on hand-ball interpretations; by the letter of the updated IFAB guidelines, Kružliak’s choice looked defensible.

Penalty statistics and Portuguese anxieties

Missed spot-kicks are becoming an unexpected subplot of Portugal’s road to North America. Since the start of 2024, the national team has earned eight penalties and converted just five. Ronaldo’s misfire against Ireland revives debate over whether he or Bruno Fernandes should shoulder future duties. For manager Roberto Martínez—tasked with guiding the squad through the remaining qualifiers—the question is no longer academic. Goal difference and head-to-head records could ultimately decide the pool, meaning each squandered chance carries weight.

How FIFA chooses its whistle-blowers

Kružliak’s appearance in Lisbon also offered a glimpse into the opaque world of referee appointments. FIFA begins grooming candidates almost three years before each World Cup, combining fitness tests, technical reviews and continuous performance monitoring. Continental quotas guarantee geographic diversity, but individual federations lobby hard for their officials to handle marquee games. In Europe, the process runs through UEFA’s 16-member Referees Committee, which then proposes names to FIFA’s top brass. With Kružliak climbing that ladder—he has already passed preliminary World Cup assessments—Portuguese fans may see more of him on the road to 2026.

Looking ahead

Portugal sit on nine points from three matches, maintaining a perfect record at the summit of their qualifying section. Next month brings a potentially decisive trip to Budapest, where Hungary seldom lose. Ireland remain on a solitary point yet proved in Lisbon they can frustrate bigger nations. For the seleção, the lesson is clear: dominance in possession means little without ruthless finishing. And if Ivan Kružliak’s whistle echoes again in a future fixture, expect the conversation across cafés from Viana do Castelo to Faro to ignite all over again—penalty debates, xG tables and all.