On June 22nd, 2024, BVB Stadion in Dortmund will witness a pulsating encounter between Portugal and Turkey in their second match of UEFA Euro 2024.
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Both teams kicked off their campaigns with impressive wins, Turkey defeating Georgia 3-1 and Portugal edging out Czechia 2-1. Turkey's young guns, Arda Guler and Kenan Yildiz, made history as the first 19-year-olds to start alongside each other in a EURO game in 60 years.
Arda Guler's strike in the 65th minute made him the fifth youngest scorer in Euros history and the first teenager to score on his debut since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2004.
The Portuguese superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo, will be the man to watch, having scored against 47 different nations, but surprisingly, never against Turkey.
Turkey, who entered Euro 2024 on a five-game winless run, stunned Georgia with a stylish victory, breaking their curse of losing the opening match in each of their previous five European Championship appearances.
Despite Turkey's impressive start, they have never beaten Portugal at the European Championship, failing to score in all their last three meetings.
However, Portugal's veteran defender, Pepe, and Cristiano Ronaldo, broke European Championship records in their win against Czechia. Ronaldo became the first player to feature at six different Euros, while Pepe became the oldest player to play at the Euros.
With both teams level on points in Group F, Turkey leads the group due to their superior goal difference.
The coaches, Vincenzo Montella and Roberto Martinez, are optimistic about their teams' chances. Montella expressed his delight at Turkey's historic win, while Martinez praised Portugal's resilience and belief in their comeback victory.
The coaches said the following;
Vincenzo Montella, Turkey coach:
This is the first time we've won the first match and we've not got beyond the group stage in the last three EUROs; we didn't even pick up a point last time. Our first target was to win the [opening] match. Now we've won it, the dream is to win the next one and reach the knockout stage.
Roberto Martinez, Portugal coach:
We won [against Czechia] because we showed resilience, will power and belief. It's the first time we've come from behind to win [under my tenure]. We believed; we showed incredible personality. If we had scored early, we could have won by three or four.
The possible line-ups suggest a thrilling encounter, with Turkey's young attacking duo of Arda Guler and Kenan Yıldız looking to exploit Portugal's defense. Portugal's attacking trio of Ronaldo, Joao Felix, and Bernardo Silva will aim to outscore Turkey's defense.
This encounter has all the ingredients of a classic, with both teams seeking to secure a spot in the knockout stage. Will Cristiano Ronaldo finally score against Turkey, or will Turkey's young guns stun Portugal ?
Possible line-ups
Turkey: Mert Gunok, Mert Muldur, Samet Akaydin, Abdulkerim Bardakci, Ferdi Kadioglu, Kaan Ayhan, Calhanoglu, Orcun Kokcu, Arda Guler, Kenan Yildiz, Baris, Alper Yilmaz
Portugal: Diogo Costa, Ruben Dias, Pepe, Inacio, Cancelo, Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes, Nuno Mendes; Joao Felix, Ronaldo, Bernardo Silva
