Portugal defeated Czech Republic 2-1 in the opening match for both teams at Euro 2024. The hero of the match in Group F was Francisco Conceição, who scored in the second minute of extra time. Before that, Provod gave the Czechs the lead (62nd minute), and Hranáč scored an own goal for a 1-1 tie shortly after.
The match was historic for Cristiano Ronaldo and Pepe. The Al Nassr player debuted at Euro 2004 and now holds three records: most participations (6), most goals (14), and most matches played (25).
Defender Pepe became the oldest player to play in the European Championship finals at 41 years and 113 days. Until now, the record was held by Hungarian goalkeeper Gábor Király, who played at 40 years and 86 days in the defeat against Belgium in the round of 16 at Euro 2016.
With the victory, the 2016 European football champions tied for points with Turkey in first place in Group F, after the Turks beat Georgia 3-1.
Turkey defeated the strong Georgians and started their participation in Euro 2024 with a victory. Turkey defeated the strong Georgians and started their participation in Euro 2024 with a victory.
With this, the Portuguese recorded their fifth consecutive victory against the Czechs, who won their only victory in this rivalry in 1996, when they also played in the tournament final.
In the 8th minute, we witnessed the first interesting situation in front of one of the two goals. Rafa Leão advanced on the left flank and crossed into the penalty area, where Cristiano Ronaldo managed to head the ball, but it went wide of the goal.
Portugal’s pressure increased, and in the middle of the first half, Bruno Fernandes created several dangerous situations in front of the Czech goal, but they still survived.
A quarter of an hour before halftime, the Portuguese created their clearest chance so far. The magician Bruno Fernandes made a stunning leading pass for the 39-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo, but the big star of Portugal wasted the chance after intervention from the Czech goalkeeper. Replays showed that there might have been offside on the pass to Ronaldo, but the linesman remained silent, so we have to register this miss by the big star of Al Nassr.
Ten minutes after the restart, Rúben Dias served the ball into the penalty area, Ronaldo struck, but after a deflection off a Czech defender, it went out for a corner. Following the corner kick, João Cancelo delivered a tricky shot, but Staněk saved.
The Portuguese were punished in the 62nd minute when, against the run of play, the Czechs managed to take the lead with their first serious scoring opportunity. This happened after a fantastic shot by Provod from the edge of the penalty area, which left the “navigators'” goalkeeper helpless.
The response was not long in coming. The score was equalized in the 69th minute after the ball was crossed into the Czech penalty area, where Mendes headed the ball, but after the goalkeeper’s intervention, the ball hit Hranáč’s leg and flew into his own net for 1-1. An exceptionally bad own goal from the defender.
Czech Republic had a great chance to snatch victory in the 81st minute, but Souček’s shot from distance went past the left post.
Five minutes before the end of the match, the Portuguese erupted in jubilation, but it was short-lived. The ball was crossed into the penalty area, and Ronaldo hit the post. There was a precise addition from Diogo Jota, but it turned out there was offside on the pass to Ronaldo.
So the match went into extra time, where the son of Portuguese legend Sérgio Conceição – Francisco Conceição – capitalized on a mistake by Hranáč seconds before the end. The defender, who scored an own goal, passed the ball near the Czech goal after a cross and the Porto striker scored the final 2-1.
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