Portugal begins its evolution Euro 2024 campaign against Czechia in Group F on Tuesday evening.
Cristiano Ronaldo will lead his team in Germany, in what is likely to be his last major international tournament. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner will be aiming to emulate Portugal’s success at Euro 2016, when the country won its first Euro in France.
Roberto Martinez is the one who leads Portugal in this competition as he failed to win Europe and Belgium, but Ronaldo is not the only star in his team. With the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva and Rafael Leao at his disposal, the Spanish coach could not have asked for a more talented squad.
Czechia have reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2020 and have a history of upsetting the odds at the tournament. They also reached the semi-finals in 2004, but are unlikely to make a splash in this year’s tournament.
Here it is 90 min Portugal vs Czechia guide.
Portugal vs Czechia H2H Record (All Matches)
Present form
|
In Portugal |
Czechia |
|---|---|
|
Portugal 3-0 Ireland – 11/06/24 |
Czechia 2-1 North Macedonia – 10/06/24 |
|
Portugal 1-2 Croatia – 08/06/24 |
Czechia 7-1 Malta – 07/06/24 |
|
Portugal 4-2 Finland – 04/06/24 |
Czechia 2-1 Armenia – 26/03/24 |
|
Slovenia 2-0 Portugal – 26/03/24 |
Norway 1-2 Czechia – 22/03/24 |
|
Portugal 5-2 Sweden – 21/03/24 |
Czechia 3-0 Moldova – 20/11/23 |
|
The country |
TV channel / live streaming |
|---|---|
|
United Kingdom |
BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport Web |
|
United States |
Fox Network, Fox Sports App, Foxsports.com, fuboTV, Sling, ViX |
|
Canada |
VIVA, TSN1, TSN3, TSN4, TLN, TVA Sports, TVA+ |
Portugal have a star-studded squad for Euro 2024 and boast a good mix of youth and experience. Two of the veterans are in Martinez Ronaldo and defender Pepe, who once became the oldest goalscorer in Euro history and the latter became the oldest player in Euro history against Czechia.
The 2016 champions boast a formidable front line with the likes of Diogo Jota, Joao Felix and Leao all at their disposal. Their midfield isn’t too bad, with Joao Palhinha at number six and Vitinha and Fernandes either side of him.
Portugal predicted to face Czechia (4-3-3): Costa; Cancelo, Dias, Inacio, Mendes; Vitinha, Palhinha, Fernandes; B. Silva, Ronaldo, Leo.
Czechia’s Michal Sadilek suffered a setback ahead of the tournament, suffering a cycling injury that ruled him out of Euro 2024. Elsewhere, Ivan Hasek has no fitness issues to worry about.
Hasek has some familiar faces in his squad, including West Ham United duo Vladimir Coufal and Tomas Soucek. Bayer Leverkusen striker Patrik Schick will lead the line after scoring five goals at Euro 2020, including Goal of the Tournament, while Ladislav Krejci will play in defense after recently signing for Girona.
Czechia predicted to face Portugal (5-3-2): Stanek; Coufal, Holes, Hranac, Krejci, D. Jurasek; Soucek, Provod, Baraki; That’s it, Schick.
Among the favorites for the tournament, Portugal has been given a regular team. With Turkey and Georgia to come, failure to beat Czechia wouldn’t be the end of the world, but it seems highly unlikely.
Their last meeting in 2022 ended 4-0 in favor of Portugal and Martinez’s front line should put the opposition to the sword on Tuesday. Ronaldo will fancy his chances of adding to his international goals tally and setting a new Euro record.
Prediction: Czechia 1-3 Portugal
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