Portugal vs Czechia LIVE: Euro 2024 result and final score as Francisco Conceicao goal wins it for Ronaldo
Portugal 2-1 Czech Republic: Conceicao scored the winner just moments after coming off the bench after Lukas Provod had given the Czechs the lead
A late goal by Portugal substitute Francisco Conceicao secured a 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic in their opening Group F game at Euro 2024, where they also needed an own goal as they came from behind to snatch victory.
As Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to feature at a sixth European Championship, Portugal dominated possession and had the lion’s share of the chances but it was the Czech’s who took the lead in the 62nd minute when Lukas Provod whipped a stunning strike into the far corner.
Seven minutes later Portugal were level when Czech goalkeeper Jindrich Stanek pushed away a header from Nuno Mendes but only as far as the leg of Robin Hranac and the ball ricocheted into the defender’s own net. The game was in added time when Conceicao tapped in from close range after a defensive mistake from Hranac to give Portugal the win
Follow all the latest reaction in our live blog below, as well as the news from the day’s other games:
KICK-OFF! Portugal 0-0 Czech Republic
KICK-OFF! Portugal get us underway in Leipzig, for the final fixture in the opening round of group games.
Portugal vs Czech Republic LIVE
The national anthems are finished and we’re moments from kick-off!
Can Portugal justify their place among the pre-tournament favourites?
Portugal vs Czech Republic LIVE
Portugal are making history at the Euros, with Pepe becoming the oldest player to feature at the tournament at the age of 41.
Ronaldo becomes the first player to appear at six different European Championships, having first played in 2004. He reached the final that year, and won in 2016 – can he inspire Portugal to another win in Germany in 2024?
The teams are in the tunnel.
Form guide
Portugal’s form coming into Euro 2024 has been mixed, with Martinez’s side losing 2-0 to Slovenia in a March friendly and 2-1 to Croatia on 8 June.
These games came either side of a 4-2 win against Finland on 4 June, while they finished their preparations with a 3-0 win against Ireland. Reaction from within Portugal prompted Bruno Fernandes to comment that he didn’t “want anyone to think that we came to this point thinking that everything was done and there was nothing to improve”.
Conversely, the Czech Republic come into the tournament in perfect form, having won all of their last five games. They finished their qualifying campaign with a 3-0 win against Moldova in November, before beating Armenia and Norway 2-1 in their March friendlies. They finished preparations for the tournament by beating Malta 7-1 before a 2-1 win against North Macedonia on 10 June.
Negativity around Portugal due to high expectations, claims Bruno Fernandes
Portugal’s squad have faced criticism after friendly defeats to Slovenia and Croatia
Head-to-head
Surprisingly, Portugal and the Czech Republic have met THREE times at the European Championships.
The first meeting came at Euro ‘96, when Karel Poborsky’s lob sent the Czechs to the semi-finals (they eventually lost 2-1 to Germany in the final, and Poborsky was rewarded with a move to Manchester United that summer).
They had to wait until Euro 2008 to meet again, and this time Portugal got their revenge with goals from Deco, Ricardo Quaresma and a certain Cristiano Ronaldo giving them the win in the second group game.
Four years later, the sides met again at the Euros, avenging their 1996 quarter-final defeat by beating the Czechs 1-0 at the same stage. Any guesses who might have scored the winner?
The first meeting between the two sides that wasn’t at the Euros came 10 years later, when they faced off in the Nations League groups in 2022. Portugal won both games: 2-0 in Lisbon in June, and 4-0 in Prague in September.
Portugal: Players to watch
It’ll be Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes and BernardomSilva that attract the viewers, but with so much established talent in Roberto Martinez’s side it may pay to keep an eye on a couple of youngsters.
Joao Neves will be hoping to impress on the international stage after excelling in the Benfica midfield this season. His performances have provoked several media rumours linking him with teams including Liverpool and Manchester United, so a good performance at this tournament may be the key to securing one such transfer. It remains to be seen whether the more experienced trio of Fernandes, Vitinha and Palhinha will keep the 19-year-old out of the starting eleven though.
In defence, 22-year-old centre-back Goncalo Inacio was a key component of Sporting’s 23/24 league title win, and he will likely start alongside Ruben Dias. However, don’t be surprised if Roberto Martinez opts for 20-year-old Antonio Silva instead, as the Benfica defender started one of the warm-up games as well as some qualifying matches. Perhaps unsurprisingly, both youngsters have been linked with clubs including Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal.
In attack, AC Milan winger Rafael Leao will be looking to impress after following a promising 2022 World Cup with a disappointing season at club level, but he faces stiff competition from Liverpool’s Diogo Jota and Atletico Madrid’s Joao Felix.
Portugal boss Roberto Martinez hails Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of his sixth Euros
Roberto Martinez has defended Cristiano Ronaldo and hailed the importance of his Portugal captain ahead of his sixth European Championship.
Portugal begin their Euro 2024 campaign on Tuesday with a Group F match with Czech Republic where talisman Ronaldo will make more history.
Al Nassr forward Ronaldo, fresh from scoring 51 goals in 52 appearances for club and country during the 2023-24 season, will play at a record-extending sixth Euros and has been backed to play a key role for Portugal.
Portugal boss Roberto Martinez hails Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of his sixth Euros
Cristiano Ronaldo scored 51 goals for club and country during the 2023-24 season.
How Portugal’s unexpected decision with Cristiano Ronaldo made them huge Euro 2024 contenders
When Roberto Martinez first took the Portugal job in January 2023, in a move that wasn’t exactly universally celebrated, there was one source of tension weighing over everything. The Catalan was expected to make the final decision on Cristiano Ronaldo‘s international future. Predecessor Fernando Santos had already started the process by leaving the Portuguese great out of the 2022 World Cup last-16 thrashing of Switzerland, with Ronaldo then decamping to the Saudi Pro League, which should have made the decision even easier.
It instead made what happened next all the more surprising. There was no tension between Ronaldo and Martinez. The new manager kept him in the squad, but also further integrated him into the team. While there had been a feeling that Martinez might be creating a huge problem for himself, it has instead proved the opposite. It’s been a non-issue, with Ronaldo remaining a productive player.
He scored 10 goals in qualifying, but that was as a part of a supremely talented team rather than the focus of everything.
How Portugal’s unexpected decision with Ronaldo made them huge Euros contenders
Roberto Martinez opted out of following predecessor Fernando Santos’ path with the record goalscorer
Portugal vs Czech Republic LIVE
We may have only just finished a breathtaking game in Dortmund, but attention turns to Portugal’s opening match now.
Ronaldo and co. look to get their Euros campaign off to a flying start and lay down a marker after impressive performances from rivals Spain and Germany.
Some have labelled Portugal as one of the pre-tournament favourites, so Roberto Martinez’s side will be eager to justify that tag.
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