Euro 2016 champions Portugal started their Euro 2024 Germany Group F campaign with three points. Selecao das Quinas (Portugal's nickname) won 2-1 over the Czech Republic at the Red Bull Arena Leipzig, on Wednesday (19/06).
Both down with 3-5-2 tactics, Portugal dominated the game with the advantage of individual quality. Ivan Hasek, the Czech coach, chose defensive tactics for his team and relied on counter-attacks.
The tactic was enough to frustrate Portugal who had possession of the ball but could not create dangerous chances in the Czech defence. The first-half score remained unchanged at 0-0.
The Czechs did not change the game in the second half. Hasek made two substitutions up front, playing Mojmir Chytil and Ondrej Lingr, replacing Patrik Schick and Jan Kuchta in the 60th minute.
Two minutes after the change, the Czechs unexpectedly scored first with simple play. The ball from Vladimir Coufal was played to Lukas Provod, whose shot from outside the box found the back of the net. 1-0 Czechs ahead.
The lead 'woke up the sleeping lions' as Portugal intensified their attack. As a result, in the 69th minute Czech defender Robin Hranac scored an own goal. Hranac was in the path of the goalkeeper after tipping over a chance from Nuno Mendes. 1-1.
Portugal didn't want a draw and Roberto Martinez played Pedro Neto, Francisco Conceicao, and Nelson Semedo in the 90th minute. Their relentless attack paid off again.
In the 90+2nd minute, newly-arrived 21-year-old striker Francisco Conceicao struck quickly when Hranac couldn't clear the ball properly from Neto's low cross. Conceicao scored from close range and Portugal had a dramatic 2-1 win over the Czechs.
Line-up
Portugal (3-5-2): Diogo Costa; Ruben Dias, Pepe, Diogo Dalot (Goncalo Inacio 63'); Nuno Mendes (Pedro Neto 90'), Vitinha (Francisco Conceicao 90'), Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Joao Cancelo (Nelson Semedo 90'); Cristiano Ronaldo, Rafael Leao (Diogo Jota 63').
Coach: Roberto Martinez
Czhech Republic (3-5-2): Jindrich Stanek; Ladislav Krejci, Robin Hranac, Tomas Holes (Tomas Chory 90+3'); David Doudera, Lukas Provod (Antonin Barak 79'), Tomas Soucek, Pavel Sulc (Petr Sevcik 79'), Vladimir Coufal; Patrik Schick (Mojmir Chytil 60'), Jan Kuchta (Ondrej Lingr 60').
Coach: Ivan Hasek