6/22/24
Group F
Georgia 1 vs. Czechia 1

Far from Czech-mate as Group F remains open

Danny Lewis, 7 min ago
Euro 2024’s early kickoff saw the Czech Republic come from behind to draw 1-1 against Georgia in Hamburg, with a timely leveller seeing them avoid defeat at the Volksparkstadion for the first time in three attempts, duly keeping Group F on a knife-edge.

Zuriko Davitashvili came in as part of Georgia’s only change from the opener, and embodied their fearless nature more than any other, as he drove at the Czech Republic at every opportunity. Ivan Hašek’s side still offered a warning of the aerial threat they posed, with Vladimír Coufal’s long throw in the third minute causing havoc, as Adam Hložek, Ladislav Krejčí and Patrik Schick all had efforts denied. Another Coufal throw saw the ball bounce into the net, but Czech celebrations were quickly cut out due to Hložek handling it prior.

At the other end, Jindřich Staněk had gone most of the first half without being tested, but did well to deny Guram Kashia, although that was proved futile as a penalty was awarded due to Robin Hranáč handling the ball before it reached Georgia’s centre-back. Georges Mikautadze had put in plenty of selfless work throughout the half and clinically converted the spot kick to score in a fourth consecutive match for club and country.

The chances kept coming, and Giorgi Mamardashvili made a superb save to deny Schick before the break, before Anzor Mekvabishvili came agonisingly close to doubling Georgia’s lead, but sent his effort marginally wide at the end of a blistering break. However, the scores were level within two minutes of that opportunity, with Ondřej Lingr’s header hitting the post before the ball bounced off Schick’s chest and trickled over the line, as the striker became Czech Republic’s all-time top-scorer at the Euros with six goals.

Czechia continued to push forward after going ahead, with Krejčí heading wide and Matěj Jurásek seeing an effort from range saved, although there was a blow when Schick went off injured. By contrast, the Jvarosnebi grew visibly tired with a quarter-hour remaining, but Mojmír Chytil glanced his header wide from the best late opening, as the Czech Republic were unable to add to their paltry return of one win in their last eight Euros group-stage matches.

Five minutes of injury time were called, and with the very final move, Georgia were denied a first-ever victory at a major tournament, after Saba Lobjanidze missed an outstanding opportunity by firing over the bar with only the keeper to beat. Both sides still maintain hopes of progressing through Group F, but all eyes now turn to Portugal’s upcoming clash with Turkey – a draw in which would leave both of today’s early combatants needing a victory on matchday three to keep their chances of progress alive.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Giorgi Mamardashvili (Georgia)

Czechia Georgia

6/22/24
Group F
Türkiye vs. Portugal

Portugal power through thanks to self-stuffing Türkiye

Anthony Tomas, 22 min ago
A calamitous own goal helped Portugal secure a 3-0 win over Turkey in Dortmund and a place in the knockout stages of UEFA Euro 2024 with a game to spare, as Turkey suffered a fourth Euros loss to the 2016 champions without scoring a goal.

One of four changes to the Turkey starting line-up from their opening win over Georgia, goalkeeper Altay Bayındır was tested after just a minute when Cristiano Ronaldo caught Bernardo Silva’s cross sweetly on the volley. Kerem Aktürkoğlu was another beneficiary of rotation after his goal against Georgia, but he could not repay Vincenzo Montella’s faith in him five minutes later, when he failed to turn Zeki Çelik’s cross goalwards from six yards.

Punishment duly came midway through the first half, when Rafael Leão combined down the Portugal left with Nuno Mendes. His low cross deflected into the path of Bernardo Silva, who guided the ball past Bayındır to put Portugal ahead. Just seven minutes later, the lead was doubled in comical style, when Ronaldo threw his hands up in frustration as João Cancelo’s poor through ball was easily cut out by Samet Akaydin. But the defender completely missed Bayındır with his backpass, sending the ball trickling over the line just before the scrambling Çelik could hook it clear.

Aktürkoğlu almost provided the ideal response for the Crescent Stars, only for Diogo Costa to deny him smartly at his near post, before Bruno Fernandes and Ronaldo failed to keep efforts down before the break. But just 10 minutes after the break, Portugal made light work of more poor Turkish defending to add a third. A sloppy back line played Ronaldo onside, allowing him to latch onto Rúben Neves’ long ball forward and have a free run at goal, before drawing the goalkeeper and squaring the ball to Fernandes, who tapped it into an empty net.

Even the introduction of young Turkish sensation Arda Güler failed to make a game of it, and content with their advantage, Roberto Martínez’s men sat back and thwarted any hopes of a late consolation. They remain unbeaten in the Euros against a team ranked outside the top 20 since losing the 2004 final, while a draw in Turkey's final group outing against Czechia will be enough for them to reach the knockout rounds for the first time in 16 years.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Bernardo Silva (Portugal)

Portugal Türkiye

6/22/24
Group E
Belgium 2 vs. Romania 0

Youri-ka moment sees Belgians atone in Cologne

James Hilsum, 4 min ago
Belgium blew Group E wide open with a vital 2-0 victory over Romania, leaving all four teams with three points from two games, as the Red Devils ended a three-match winless run at major tournaments.

Domenico Tedesco’s bubble as Red Devils boss well and truly burst on matchday one, after suffering an odds-defying first defeat in charge against Slovakia. But his players made a rampant start in Cologne, after Jérémy Doku and Romelu Lukaku linked up sublimely, teeing up Youri Tielemans to rifle home a right-footed strike past Florin Niță. As well as being the third-fastest goal in Euros history, the strike ended Belgium’s unwanted record run of failing to score in three consecutive matches at major tournaments.

Edward Iordănescu’s men were no in mood to roll over and have their bellies tickled though, with Koen Casteels expertly parrying over Radu Drăgușin’s towering header from Marius Marin’s cross. In response, Kevin De Bruyne looked to take matters into his own hands, with a majestic run forward to set up Dodi Lukebakio, whose left-footed effort was parried to safety by Niță. Contributing further to a breathless first half, Denis Drăguș then exploited a gap in the Belgian defence, only to be denied by some smart goalkeeping from Casteels.

The Tricolorii continued to carry a threat after the break, and a blistering counter-attack resulted in Valentin Mihăilă firing a speculative strike over the bar. The pulsating pace of this match was showing no sign of abating, and shortly after he curled a delicious right-footed attempt just wide, De Bruyne thought he had made a telling impact. True to his largely impeccable style, the Manchester City maestro produced a perfectly-weighted through ball for Romelu Lukaku to dispatch beyond Niță, but the Roma man incredibly saw a third goal disallowed in this tournament for offside.

Dennis Man threatened to rub salt in the wound in a one-on-one chance with Casteels, but fired straight at the Belgian keeper when an equaliser looked inevitable. However, De Bruyne was not to be denied a goal which kicked the stuffing out of a plucky Tricolorii side once and for all. It might not make many showreels for its aesthetic qualities, but its importance cannot be underestimated, as he outmuscled Radu Drăgușin and converted past the onrushing Niță.

It is a result which leaves Group E on a knife edge ahead of the final round of matches, with both of these teams – alongside Slovakia and Ukraine – harbouring genuine hopes of reaching the last 16. The Belgians will face Ukraine in Stuttgart, while Romania take on Slovakia in Frankfurt, and fans can expect plenty of twists and turns in an exciting crescendo on Wednesday night.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium)

Belgium Romania