LEIPZIG.- Cristiano Ronaldo is about to become the first player to participate in six editions of the European Championship, when his Portugal debut against the Czech Republic.
In their sixth consecutive Euro, the Czechs cannot be careless with the rest of Cristiano’s teammates.
What you need to know:
DATA AND KEYS
— It will be the fourth confrontation between these teams in the tournament. The Czechs won the first 1-0, but Portugal emerged triumphant in 2008 and 2012. The Portuguese have won the last four duels between them, without conceding a goal in the last three.
— Both advanced to the knockout phase of Euro 2021. Portugal, which was defending the title, was eliminated by Belgium in the round of 16. The Czechs fell in the quarterfinals against Denmark.
— While Portugal was crowned at Euro 2016, the Czechs go back to 1976 for their coronation when it was part of Czechoslovakia. Antonín Panenka scored the decisive penalty against West Germany, kicking the ball down the middle. Numerous players have imitated him since then, with “Panenka”-style finishes, such as the Uruguayan Sebastián Abreu in the quarterfinals of the 2010 World Cup. Lionel Messi, Zinedine Zidane and Andrea Pirlo have also done it.
— Spanish coach Roberto Martínez led the Belgian team that eliminated Portugal in the last edition. Now he leads the Portuguese.
— Even without Cristiano, Portugal boasts an outstanding group of attackers: João Félix (Barcelona), Gonçalo Ramos (Paris Saint-Germain) and Rafael Leão (AC Milan), with Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva operating in the middle.
— Türkiye and Georgia are the other teams in Group F and will play first thing in the morning in Dortmund.
EQUIPMENT
— Czech coach Ivan Hašek has no doubts due to injuries.
— Martínez did not want to confirm that Cristiano or veteran defender Pepe will be in the game on Tuesday.
DATA
— Cristiano, who made his debut in a major tournament when Portugal reached the final of Euro 2004, is the owner of the records for most goals (14) and appearances (25) in the competition. The 39-year-old striker scored a brace in the 3-0 victory over Ireland in a friendly.
— Born in Brazil, Pepe could become the oldest player in a Euro if he plays on Tuesday. He will be 41 years and 113 days old and would take the record from Hungarian goalkeeper Gábor Király, who was 40 years and 86 days old when he saved against Belgium in the round of 16 of Euro 2016.
OTHER
“Everyone knows the quality we have. We know that we are capable of doing something special. But everything depends on our cohesion” — Portuguese defender Rúben Dias.
“The Portuguese are the famous ones. They are known all over the world. We are not. We have to stand up to them. Play as a team. That is the only chance — Hašek.
Source: AP
