Portugal 2-1 Czech Republic
- Portugal beat Czech Republic 2-1 in their opening Euros game
- Turkey beat Georgia 3-1 earlier in the day in the other Group F fixture
- Turkey sit at the top of Group F (on goal difference), Portugal in second, Czech Republic third and Georgia fourth
- Portugal will face Turkey next, while Czech face Georgia – all fixtures on 22 June
UEFA EURO 2024: Portugal snatch last-gasp win against Czech Republic
Francisco Conceicao scored a dramatic late winner as Portugal came from behind to beat the Czech Republic 2-1 in their Euro 2024 opener in Leipzig.
Portugal, managed by Roberto Martinez, are among the tournament favourites after an impeccable qualifying campaign. However, they faced a stern challenge from a resilient Czech Republic side.
The Czech Republic, largely on the defensive throughout the match, took a surprising lead when Lukas Provod’s second-half strike found the far corner of the net. Despite their defensive efforts, an own goal by Robin Hranac soon after Nuno Mendes’ header was parried by Czech goalkeeper Jindrich Stanek leveled the score.
Portugal’s Diogo Jota had a goal disallowed for offside late in the game, but Conceicao’s stoppage-time goal secured the win, marking Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo’s appearance at a record sixth European Championship with a memorable victory.
Portugal dominated possession and kept the Czech Republic on the back foot but struggled to convert their build-up play into clear chances, with Stanek making several crucial saves, including stopping two efforts from Ronaldo.
Despite frustrations and missed opportunities, Portugal’s persistence paid off with Conceicao’s decisive strike, showcasing the determination that fuels their championship ambitions.
The Czech Republic, under coach Ivan Hasek, entered the tournament as underdogs but had shown promising form since Hasek’s appointment in January. They delivered a near-perfect defensive performance and took a shock lead but couldn’t hold on for a draw, which would have been a significant result for them.
The result gives Portugal a strong start in Group F, while the Czech Republic will look to build on their solid performance in upcoming matches against Turkey and Georgia.