Portugal’s Euro 2024 campaign began with a nail-biting 2-1 win against the Czech Republic in Group F, played at Leipzig’s Red Bull Arena amidst a downpour. The Czech side, resilient in defense, struck first with a goal from Lukas Provod in the 62nd minute. Portugal’s persistence paid off when Robin Hranac inadvertently equalized with an own goal, setting the stage for Francisco Conceição’s dramatic late winner in the 92nd minute – a moment nearly 24 years after his father, Sérgio Conceição, scored a hat-trick in Euro 2000. Cristiano Ronaldo, making his record sixth European Championship appearance, had a goal disallowed for offside but remained a key figure for Portugal. Pepe’s appearance also broke records, as he became the oldest player to participate in the tournament at 41 years and 113 days. Meanwhile, Turkey secured a convincing 3-1 victory over Georgia, with 19-year-old Arda Güler making a stunning debut, scoring a goal that made him the youngest player to score in a European Championship, surpassing Ronaldo’s previous record. Both Portugal and Turkey now lead Group F with three points each, setting up a crucial match between the two nations in their next fixture.
Key points
- Portugal won against the Czech Republic with a stoppage-time goal from Francisco Conceição in a rain-soaked match.
- Pepe became the oldest player in European Championship history, while Ronaldo made his record sixth appearance.
- Turkey also started strong with a 3-1 win over Georgia, as Arda Güler broke Ronaldo’s record as the youngest scorer in a European Championship.
