The opening match of Group F at Euro 2024 pits two of the tournament’s top scorers from the last edition against each other as Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal takes on Patrik Schick’s Czech Republic on Tuesday, June 19th (12:30 AM IST). This encounter holds significance for Portugal, marking a potential final chapter for their golden generation, featuring the iconic Ronaldo and veteran defender Pepe.
Portugal’s coach Roberto Martinez acknowledges the Czech Republic’s aggressive style in a press conference, stating, “I think Czechia’s style is very clear. It’s about taking risks and pressing high, with players who want to score goals. They play to win and it will be a fantastic game for neutral fans.”
The Czech Republic, under manager Ivan Hašek, is focused on achieving a major upset, with Hašek expressing, “We know about Cristiano Ronaldo, but I want us to say after the game not that we played against him, but that we beat him.”
The clash promises to be a thrilling encounter with both sides renowned for their attacking prowess. Portugal’s lineup features Diogo Costa, Cancelo, Pepe, Rúben Dias, Nuno Mendes, Palhinha, Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes, Rafael Leão, Ronaldo, and Bernardo Silva. The Czech Republic will be relying on Stanek, Holes, Hranac, Krejci, Coufal, Soucek, Provod, Barak, Jurasek, Kuchta, and Schick to secure a victory.
