Euro 2024: Portuguese and Czechs Aim to Hit the Ground Running

Portugal vs Czech Republic

This meeting in Leipzig could well determine the winner of Group F.

For Portugal and Czech Republic both know that victory in their opening contest at Euro 2024 could be the trigger for a summer to remember.

That’s not to condemn their other group opponents, Turkey and Georgia, to third and fourth place.

But an opening three points for either nation here will certainly hold them in good stead to progress to the knockout stages.

 

Talking Points

Many eyes are on Portugal who, when it comes to major tournaments, have been a much fancied team since the turn of the millennium, led by their own modern day stars in Luis Figo and, most notably of all, Cristiano Ronaldo.

So, is a 2016 repeat realistic?

Well Ronaldo is 39 now – a mere baby when you compare him to centre-back Pepe who has reached the grand old age of 41 – but in his sixth European Championships, CR7 still has a big influence and is backed by some experienced heads in the Portuguese ranks with Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes a key man in his senior group, which also includes the likes of Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva.

If the Selecao have the talent to deliver Euro 2024 highlights, so do the Czechs under the vastly-experienced coach Ivan Hasek.

Capped 55 times by Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic as a player, Hasek was an icon during in his playing days at Sparta Prague before starting his coaching career with the club in 1999.

After 56 matches in charge during a five-year reign, Jaroslav Silhavy departed the national team last November by which time he had overseen most of the Czech Republic’s qualifying campaign.

Hasek took the reins for his country for the second time at the start of the year and has only overseen four friendly matches so far, picking up twin 2-1 wins over Norway and Armenia in March before victories over Malta and North Macedonia in the past week.

New manager or not, after reaching the quarter-final in two of the last three Euros, the Czechs will hope to go one step further this year and it appears clear where their main threat will be.

A trio of Bayer Leverkusen players who won the Bundesliga and the German Cup unbeaten headline their squad so look no further than forwards Patrik Schick and Adam Hložek, as well as goalkeeper Matěj Kovář.

If they play well, the Czech Republic should do well too.

Watch out also for Vaclav Cerny from Wolfsburg, although not a club regular of late, and exiting Slavia Prague youngster Matej Jurasek.

 

History

When they last met in September 2022, Portugal ran riot – a double from Diogo Dalot and one each from Fernandes and Diogo Jota sealing a comprehensive 4-0 win in Prague, their fourth consecutive win over the Czech Republic

That was in the Nations League.

Portugal had won the fixture in Lisbon three months earlier too when Joao Cancelo and Goncalo Guedes were on target in a 2-0 victory.

Until then, the nations had previously only met in the European Championships in their three meetings.

Few who saw their Euro 96 quarter-final will forget that Karel Poborsky goal which settled the contest and, ultimately, helped seal him a move to Manchester United.

When they next met, in the group stages of Euro 2008, Ronaldo was joined on the scoresheet by Deco and Ricardo Quaresma in a 3-1 Portugal success.

They then met at Euro 2012 four years later in the quarter-finals stage when ‘you know who’ scored the only goal.

 

Betting Tip

The 2016 European champions are firm favourites to open their Euro 2024 campaign with three points and that is reflected by odds of 1X2 @ 1.49 and Asian Handicap -1.25 @ 2.21.

They are also fancied to lead by the break with First Half 1X2 @ -2.19 and First Half Asian Handicap -0.50, also @ 2.19.

The Czech Republic may not mind being underdogs with the SBOTOP Euro 2024 betting odds.

The draw @ 3.92 is one thing, Asian Handicap +0.75 @ 2.23 and 1X2 @ 5.60 very much another.

Likewise, they can be backed First Half Asian Handicap +0.25 @ 2.16 and First Half 1X2 @ 4.80.

I am tempted by another 2-0 Portugal success, on offer @ 7.00 with Correct Score, whereas Total Goal 0-1 @ 3.56, 2-3 @ 1.93 and 4-6 @ 3.13 have also caught my eye.

In the end, though, I have gone for over 2.75 goals @ 2.04 as my ** prediction.

   

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