Portugal 2-1 Czechia RECAP: Conceicao comes off bench to score winner (2024)

Before I head off, let's have a look at the statistics.

I think it's pretty clear that Portugal deserved to win that game, but they were made to work hard for it.

Jindrich Stanek, the Czechia goalkeeper, was forced into eight saves, but even after all that he couldn't keep Portugal out.

Look at the possession stats too, pure dominance!

Right, I'm guessing you want to read someone else's view, don't you?

Well, here is your chance to.

Chief Sports Writer, Oliver Holt, was in Leipzig to see tonight's drama unfold at the Red Bull Arena.

I don't want to spoil what he has written, so go and have a look for yourselves.

Read more:

It may not have counted for much in the end, but what a goal this was.

Czechia had their backs up against the wall until Lukas Provod decided to have a punt.

His decision paid off, his opener was a sensational hit, another to add to the Euro 2024 catalogue.

Watch, and enjoy...

Vitinha is a nifty little player, isn't he?

I remember when he was at Wolves on loan during the 2020-21 season. He was impressive then, but his final product lacked.

Well, the same cannot be said now, the midfielder has really grown into his ability as a player.

He just kept plugging away tonight, trying to make things happen all the time.

A deserved Player of the Match award in my eyes.

Class is permanent, as they say.

Despite being 41 years of age, and the oldest player to ever play in the European Championship, Pepe proved he has still got it this evening.

The defender won possession a total of 11 times tonight, more than any other player in the whole of matchday one.

Not bad for an old fella - he really is a golden oldie.

Alan Shearer, former England striker, on BBC One:

The scenes for that winner, wow.

Francisco Conceicao turned into Usain Bolt as soon as the ball hit the net, none of his teammates could catch him at first.

When he ran out of room they did, though, and the crazy celebrations began.

There is nothing better than a last-minute winner. What a feeling.

Just look at these scenes. Incredible.

I thought Portugal had run out of time, just look at my post in regard to stoppage time.

They proved me wrong, though, and Francisco Conceicao was there to pounce on a Czechia error at the right time.

What a way to become a hero so early on in your international career.

Portugal get over the line... just!

Portugal probed and prodded without success for so long, but right at the death, they managed to nick all three points.

It's devastating for Czechia, they thought they had done enough to earn themselves a precious point.

But football always throws in a bit of drama, and just three minutes after coming on, Fransisco Conceicao saved Portugal's blushes.

This tournament just keeps on throwing up brilliant moments.

IT WASN'T BUT THIS IS!

There is no way that one is being chalked off, Fransisco Conceicao has won it at the death for Portugal.

He pounces on a mistake and smashes home from close range to send the Portugal fans into raptures.

What a debut for the youngster, he takes his shirt off and goes crazy.

The final throw of the dice from Roberto Martinez.

Both Pedro Neto and Nelson Semedo have come on for the final moments looking to make an impact.

Porto star Fransisco Conceicao also comes into the fray.

Is it too late?

Wow, that was quick!

It takes just one minute for the goal to be ruled out for offside, and it seems Cristiano Ronaldo just strayed too far.

The ball was played over to Ronaldo who headed onto the post before Digo Jota fired in the rebound with his head.

But it won't count. Fine, fine margins.

DIOGO JOTA HAS SURELY WON IT!

Oh wait, VAR is checking for offside, and I think this could be called off for offside on Cristiano Ronaldo...

Czechia's goalscorer is being hooked.

Well, maybe the term 'hooked' is too harsh, but anyway, he is off the pitch and has been replaced by Antonin Barak.

Petr Sevcik has also come on.

Portugal mean business again.

They have had their fortune and now smell blood. Bernardo Silva pulls the trigger and sees the ball flying towards the net.

But this time Jindrich Stanek deals with it.

Seven minutes is all it took!

And it's a gift for Portugal, wrapped up beautifully by Jindrich Stanek - the Czechia keeper.

The ball is headed across goal by Nuno Mendes, and for some reason Stankek palms it straight into Robin Hranac rather than holding onto it.

It bounces straight off the defender and into the net. Poor, very poor.

Roberto Martinez responds instantly with a double change.

Diogo Jota and Goncalo Inacio are both on to replace Rafael Leao and Diogo Dalot.

This is not what they would have been expecting to come into.

OUT OF NOWHERE!

With one of their first chances of the match, Czechia take the lead, and what a goal it is.

Vladimir Coufal slides the ball across to Lukas Provod outside the area, and the latter curls the ball into the far corner.

That wasn't in the script!

After getting booked, Patrik Schick's night has come to an end, and in truth, he deserves to be withdrawn after his performance. He has barely been involved.

Mojmir Chtill replaces him, and Ondrej Lingr also enters the fray for Czechia.

Ooooh, this is Cristiano Ronaldo territory...

Patrik Schick goes in heavily bon Joao Cancelo just outside the area and earns himself a yellow card.

No surprises as to who is going to step up to the ball.

Finally, a bit of quality.

Ruben Dias drifts over to the right-hand side and swings in a pinpoint cross for Cristiano Ronaldo to attack.

But his header is fired straight into a Czechia defender from inches away, and it goes for a corner.

The set-piece causes some problems, and Ronaldo looks set to cause problems with his noggin again.

However, Tomas Soucek gets their first.

No changes from either side after the break.

So, let's get back to the action. Czechia get the ball rolling once again in Leipzig.

Will we see goals in this half?

Wow, that's a lot of passes.

I knew they were dominant but this statistic tells the whole story, doesn't it?

No Portugal side has ever completed more passes in a European Championship game than this one did in that first period.

All that passing and no goals, though.

Oliver Holt, Mail Sport Chief Sports Writer, in Leipzig:

And there goes the whistle.

After the excitement of Turkey vs Georgia, this game has been largely subdued in comparison.

Portugal have had the better of proceedings with Cristiano Ronaldo causing a few problems, but Czechia are defending well so far.

It is the 12th game of the tournament so far, and the first that has been a stalemate at half-time.

Let's hope we see some goals in the second half!

Just as I say that...

Cristiano Ronaldo really wants a goal on this historic night, but once again he is foiled by Jindrich Stanek.

Ronaldo gets the ball on the turn and sends a curling effort toward goal, but Stanek pushes the ball away comfortably.

That's Czechia's best attack of the night.

Ruben Dias is called upon to clear Vladimir Coufal's teasing cross, it's brilliant defending.

Then up the other end, Rafael Leao goes down under the pressure of Tomas Soucek, but it seems soft.

And it's because there was nothing there, he just dived, and he gets rightly booked for it.

It's all happening in Leipzig!

Oh, I thought Cristiano Ronaldo had done it.

Bruno Fernandes, who has been brilliant so far, slides a deceitful pass into the path of Ronaldo, and he is through.

You just expect him to clip it over Jindrich Stanek in the Czechia net, but he can't get it past him.

It's a brilliant save from the keeper.

Also, upon seeing the replay, I think Ronaldo is offside anyway...

Oh, that is inches away from Rafael Leao.

He comes within a stride of giving Portugal the lead on the counter-attack.

It comes after Czechia finally decide to go forward, and it allows Portugal to commit men forward on the break.

It ends up at Bruno Fernandes' feet and he slides the ball across for Leao to sweep home, but the latter can't reach it.

So, so, close!

Now that would have been extremely special from Bruno Fernandes.

Long distance pot shots seem to be the way for Portugal at the moment,m and this time it's Fernandes who has a go.

He - unlike the others who have tried so far - has a knack for scoring screamers, and he isn't far away with a dipping effort.

The ball dips ever so slightly over the bar.

We get our first proper sight of Cristiano Ronaldo.

It is very nearly a typical Ronaldo effort as the ball is clipped into his eyeline by Rafael Leao.

Ronaldo rises to meet it but gets his header all wrong and the ball bounces off his shoulder before bouncing wide.

Another day, that's probably landing in the back of the net. A very good chance.

It's time to find out what Portugal are made of then.

Perfect in qualification, they are seen as one of the favourites for the competition, but tournament football is a different ball game.

They get their campaign underway!

If Patrik Schick is on form tonight, watch out Portugal.

The Bayer Leverkusen star is by far, and away, Czechia's star man. The country's hopes are on his back.

He was the joint top scorer in Euro 2020, even scoring a stunner against Scotland.

If Czechia are to spring a shock this evening, Schick is going to have to be firing on all cylinders.

Can he make a difference?

Oliver Holt, Mail Sport Chief Sports Writer, in Leipzig:

Nathan Salt, Mail Sport:

Perhaps in hindsight it was foolish to write him off but after all that happened in Qatar it seemed reasonable to assume Cristiano Ronaldo would not be back for another major tournament.

That was the World Cup finals during which Ronaldo cut ties with Manchester United, rocking the Portugal camp with fallout from that bombshell interview with Piers Morgan and criticism of Erik ten Hag.

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Fans are in full voice as they make their way to the Leipzig stadium. You never get tired of seeing sights like this at a major tournament.

Flags waving and fans singing, it just makes you wish you were involved, right?

Czechia XI: Stanek, Hranac, Krejci, Holes, Soucek, Coufal, Provod, Sulc, Doudera, Schick, Kuchta

Subs: Zima, Vitik, Barak, Sevcik, Hlozek, Chytil, David Jurasek, Kovar, Cerny, Chory, Lingr, Cerv, Jaros, Vlcek, Matej Jurasek

Portugal XI: Costa, Dias, Pepe, Nuno Mendes, Dalot, Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, Joao Cancelo, Bernardo Silva, Ronaldo, Leao

Subs: Rui Patricio, Nelson Semedo, Joao Palhinha, Goncalo Ramos, Joao Felix, Jose Sa, Danilo Pereira, Inacio, Joao Neves, Matheus Luiz, Ruben Neves, Jota, Silva, Pedro Neto, Francisco Conceicao.

Ronaldo should expect to hear this throughout the match later, I'm sure.

Czechia were something of a surprise package at the last European Championship, reaching the quarter-finals before falling to Denmark.

Their memorable campaign included a group stage victory over Scotland at Hampden Park, which featured the goal of the tournament from Patrik Schick.

A draw against Croatia and narrow loss to England showed Czechia are not a team to underestimate, as proven by their 2-0 win over the Netherlands in the last 16.

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Portugal will arrive in Germany with serious hopes of winning the European Championship, just as they did eight years ago.

Roberto Martinez's team come into the tournament after qualifying with the best record of any team, winning all of their games while scoring the most and conceding the least.

They are clearly the team to beat in Group F, having been drawn alongside Czechia, Turkey and Georgia.