Portugal’s dramatic 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic in their Euro 2024 opener was a rollercoaster of emotions, with late drama unfolding in the final minutes of the match. Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances, Portugal found themselves trailing after Lukas Provod’s stunning strike in the 62nd minute. However, an own goal from Robin Hranac in the 69th minute levelled the score, setting the stage for a tense finale. In the first minute of stoppage time, substitute Francisco Conceição emerged as the hero, scoring the winning goal to secure all three points for Portugal in a chaotic and unpredictable encounter.

Portugal’s Resilience and Attacking Prowess

Portugal’s performance was a testament to their resilience and attacking prowess. Despite falling behind, they refused to panic and continued to work their intricate patterns, bringing on fresh legs in the form of Diogo Jota and Gonçalo Inácio[3]. Their ability to adapt and shift shapes on the field kept them in the game, as their luxuriant attacking talents, including João Félix, Gonçalo Ramos, Matheus Nunes, Rúben Neves, and Conceição himself, did not fit neatly into a system.

When Portugal’s intricate patterns worked, they played mesmerizing football. Bruno Fernandes controlled the early periods, setting up Cristiano Ronaldo for a shot that was saved, and Ronaldo returned the favor with a neat backheel to Vitinha. Nuno Mendes and Rúben Dias both had attempts from distance, showcasing Portugal’s attacking intent from the start.

Ronaldo’s Missed Opportunities and Offside Controversy

Cristiano Ronaldo, the top scorer in the Saudi Pro League, had a mixed performance. While he missed several opportunities to equalize, his leaping and finishing were not what they once were. A second-half free-kick sailed harmlessly into Jindrich Stanek’s hands. However, Ronaldo came agonizingly close to scoring in the dying moments, as his header hit the post, and Diogo Jota bundled in the rebound, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.

Czech Republic’s Valiant Defensive Effort

The Czech Republic put in a valiant defensive effort, with Patrik Schick leading the charge and Jindrich Stanek making several key saves. Towards the end of the first half, the Czechs began to gain momentum and counter-attack effectively, realizing that their best chance of scoring was in the moments after Portugal had lost possession. Their disciplined defensive display in the first half led to frustration for the 2016 winners.

Player Ratings

Portugal

Diogo Costa (GK): 6/10 – Had little to do for most of the match but was beaten by Provod’s stunning strike.

Rúben Dias: 7/10 – Solid at the back and had a couple of attempts from distance.

Pepe: 6/10 – The oldest player in the tournament’s history at 41 years and 113 days, he struggled at times with the pace of the game.

Nuno Mendes: 8/10 – A constant threat down the left and provided the assist for the equalizer.

Diogo Dalot: 7/10 – Solid defensively and contributed to Portugal’s attacking play.

Bruno Fernandes: 8/10 – Controlled the early periods and set up Ronaldo for a chance.

Vitinha: 7/10 – Worked tirelessly in midfield and nearly scored after a neat backheel from Ronaldo.

João Cancelo: 7/10 – Provided width and creativity from the right flank.

Bernardo Silva: 8/10 – A constant threat with his dribbling and creativity, he nearly scored after pinching possession[1].

Cristiano Ronaldo: 6/10 – Missed several chances but came close to scoring with a header that hit the post.

Rafael Leão: 6/10 – Struggled to make an impact and was substituted in the second half.

Substitutes:
Diogo Jota: 7/10 – Had a goal ruled out for offside but provided energy and movement up front.
Gonçalo Inácio: 6/10 – Brought on to shore up the defense.
Pedro Neto: 7/10 – Provided the assist for the winning goal with a cross from the left.
Francisco Conceição: 8/10 – The hero of the night, scoring the winning goal in the first minute of stoppage time.

Czech Republic

Jindrich Stanek (GK): 7/10 – Made several crucial saves to keep his team in the game.

Robin Hranac: 5/10 – Scored an unfortunate own goal that allowed Portugal to equalize.

Ladislav Krejci: 6/10 – Part of a solid defensive unit that frustrated Portugal for long periods.

Tomas Holes: 7/10 – A rock at the back and dealt well with Portugal’s attacking threats.

Tomas Soucek: 7/10 – The captain led by example with his work rate and defensive discipline.

Vladimir Coufal: 6/10 – Provided an outlet on the right flank but struggled to contain Portugal’s left-sided threat.

Lukas Provod: 8/10 – Scored a stunning goal to give the Czech Republic the lead and was a constant threat on the counter-attack.

Pavel Sulc: 6/10 – Worked hard in midfield but was overrun at times by Portugal’s quality.

David Doudera: 7/10 – Played a key role in the build-up to Provod’s goal and caused problems with his direct running.

Patrik Schick: 7/10 – Led the line well and provided a focal point for the Czech Republic’s counter-attacks[3].

Jan Kuchta: 6/10 – Worked tirelessly but had limited opportunities in front of goal.

Substitutes:
Antonin Barak: 6/10 – Had a low shot blocked in the area[1] but struggled to make a significant impact.

Overall, Portugal’s victory was a testament to their resilience and attacking prowess, while the Czech Republic can take pride in their valiant defensive effort. The late drama and Conceição’s heroics made for a thrilling start to Euro 2024 for both teams.

Portugal’s dramatic 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic in their Euro 2024 opener was a roller coaster of emotions, with late drama unfolding in the final minutes of the match. Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances, Portugal found themselves trailing after Lukas Provod’s stunning strike in the 62nd minute. However, an own goal from Robin Hranac in the 69th minute levelled the score, setting the stage for a tense finale. In the first minute of stoppage time, substitute Francisco Conceição emerged as the hero, scoring the winning goal to secure all three points for Portugal in a chaotic and unpredictable encounter.

Next Fixtures

Portugal:

• June 23: Portugal vs Turkey (Group F)
• June 27: Portugal vs Georgia (Group F)

Czech Republic:

• June 23: Czech Republic vs Georgia (Group F)
• June 27: Czech Republic vs Turkey (Group F)