Wednesday, December 18, 2024

Portugal vs Czech Republic LIVE: Euro 2024 team news and updates from Group F match

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Portugal head into Euro 2024 as one of the pre-tournament favourites (Getty Images)

Cristiano Ronaldo leads Portugal against Czech Republic at Euro 2024 in the final game of the first round of group fixtures in Germany.

Roberto Martinez’s unexpected decision over Ronaldo has seen the Selecao bolster their credentials as one of the competition’s favourites. The Portuguese have one of the most talented squads at the tournament, with a balance of experience – brought by players such as Ronaldo, Pepe, Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva – mixing with the exciting talent of youngsters including Goncalo Inacio, Rafael Leao and Joao Neves.

Though they won Euro 2016, the Selecao are looking to add to their disappointingly empty trophy cabinet, having notably lost on home soil to Greece in the final of 2004.

The Czech Republic enter the tournament with little expectation despite a strong showing at Euro 2020, where Patrik Schick finished as joint-top scorer as they went out to Denmark in the quarter-finals. They’ll be hoping for a similarly strong performance this time round, with the added experience of players such as Tomas Soucek and Adam Hlozek potentially vital.

Follow all the latest news and match action in our live blog below, as well as the reaction to the day’s other games:

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Group F squads for Euro 2024

Goalkeepers: Mert Gunok (Beşiktaş), Ugurcan Cakir (Trabzonspor), Altay Bayindir (Manchester United)

Defenders: Zeki Celik (Roma), Merih Demiral (Al-Ahli), Mert Muldur (Fenerbahçe), Ferdi Kadioglu (Fenerbahçe), Abdulkerim Bardakci (Galatasaray), Samet Akaydin (Panathinaikos), Ahmetcan Kaplan (Ajax)

Midfielders: Hakan Calhanoglu (Inter Milan), Kaan Ayhan (Galatasaray), Okay Yokuslu (West Bromwich Albion), Orkun Kokcu (Benfica), Salih Ozcan (Borussia Dortmund), Ismail Yuksek (Fenerbahçe), Arda Guler (Real Madrid)

Forwards: Cenk Tosun (Besiktas), Yusuf Yazici (Lille), Irfan Kahveci (Fenerbahçe), Kerem Akturkoglu (Galatasaray), Baris Alper Yilmaz (Galatasaray), Yunus Akgun (Leicester City), Kenan Yildiz (Juventus), Semih Kilicsoy (Besiktas), Bertug Yildirim (Rennes)

Chris Wilson18 June 2024 14:38

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Group F squads for Euro 2024

Goalkeepers: Jindrich Stanek (Slavia Prague), Vitezslav Jaros (Sturm Graz),Matej Kovar (Bayer Leverkusen)

Defenders: Vladimir Coufal (West Ham United), Tomas Holes (Slavia Prague), David Zima (Slavia Prague), Ladislav Krejci (Sparta Prague), David Jurasek (Hoffenheim), Robin Hranac (Viktoria Plzen), Tomas Vlcek (Slavia Prague), Martin Vitík (Sparta Prague)

Midfielders: Tomas Soucek (West Ham), Antonin Barak (Fiorentina), David Doudera (Slavia Prague), Michal Sadilek (Twente), Lukas Provod (Slavia Prague), Vaclav Cerny (VfL Wolfsburg), Ondrej Lingr (Feyenoord), Marej Jurasek (Slavia Prague), Pavel Sulc (Viktoria Plzen), Lukas Cerv (Viktoria Plzen)

Forwards: Patrik Schick (Bayer Leverkusen), Adam Hlozek (Bayer Leverkusen), Jan Kuchta (Sparta Prague), Mojmir Chytil (Slavia Prague), Tomas Chory (Viktoria Plzen)

Chris Wilson18 June 2024 14:28

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Group F squads for Euro 2024

Goalkeepers: Rui Patricio (AS Roma), Jose Sa (Wolves), Diogo Costa (Porto)

Defenders: Nelson Semedo (Wolves), Antonio Silva (Benfica), Danilo Pereira (PSG), Joao Cancelo (FC Barcelona), Ruben Dias (Manchester City), Pepe (Porto), Goncalo Inacio (Sporting), Diogo Dalot (Manchester United), Nuno Mendes (PSG)

Midfielders: Joao Palhinha (Fulham), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Matheus Nunes (Manchester City), Ruben Neves (Al Hilal), Vitinha (PSG), Joao Neves (Benfica), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)

Forwards: Goncalo Ramos (PSG), Joao Felix (Barcelona), Rafael Leao (AC Milan), Francisco Conceicao (Porto), Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr), Diogo Jota (Liverpool), Pedro Neto (Wolves)

Mike Jones18 June 2024 14:18

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Roy Keane blasts Kylian Mbappé after bloody nose incident: ‘This is out of order’

The France captain, who created the only goal of the game which gave France a winning start to the tournament in Dusseldorf, was left covered in blood after his head hit the shoulder of Austria defender Kevin Danso following a challenge in the air.

Yet France boss Didier Deschamps was left incensed when Spanish referee Jesus Gil Manzano didn’t allow Les Bleus to make a substitute when the ball next went out of play.

Mike Jones18 June 2024 14:13

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Why Ralf Rangnick’s Austria should still be your dark horses at Euro 2024

The Godfather of Gegenpressing, of all people, was made an offer he surely couldn’t refuse. And yet somehow, some way, he did.

Instead, the highest-profile periods of the 65-year-old’s career have been spells at Schalke, Leipzig, Stuttgart, Hoffenheim, Hannover, and – more recently – Manchester United.

Mike Jones18 June 2024 14:06

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Gareth Southgate makes England prediction to solve Jude Bellingham question

Gareth Southgate believes the route to glory for England involves different players producing magic moments in different matches – rather than just expecting Jude Bellingham to carry them to victory in every game.

But Southgate called on England’s other star players to chip in and deliver wins as he argued that when England have done well, they have had a variety of individuals making decisive contributions and not just been a one-man team.

Mike Jones18 June 2024 14:00

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German efficiency? Euro 2024 trains are a shambles – and fans are paying the price

The six-mile journey from the Veltins Arena back into the city’s central station should have taken around 20 minutes by tram, yet many of the England supporters who had left at full-time in hope of an early exit remained in Gelsenkirchen, unable to move, as the packed platform waited on a train that was delayed by an over hour and counting. Up and down the platform, football fans shared the same story of disorganisation and frustration.

Welcome to Euro 2024 in Germany, where nothing is on time and the only guarantee is delays.

Mike Jones18 June 2024 13:53

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Uefa investigating alleged racist chants by Serbia fans during England game

Uefa have opened an investigation into allegations of racist and discriminatory chanting by Serbia fans during England’s 1-0 win in their Euro 2024 opener in Gelsenkirchen.

England players were reportedly targeted with racist abuse while the Kosovo football federation complained to Uefa about flags, chants and banners which contained “political, chauvinistic and racist messages against Kosovo”.

Uefa confirmed an ethics and disciplinary inspector would conduct an investigation into “alleged discriminatory behaviour” by Serbian fans, with the process set to take a number of weeks to conclude.

Mike Jones18 June 2024 13:47

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Kylian Mbappe urges youth to vote against ‘extremes’ in French elections

Mbappe addressed the French people during a pre-match press conference following Emmanuel Macron’s shock announcement to call a snap parliamentary election. Macron suffered heavy defeats by Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally (NR) party in last week’s European Union vote.

Mike Jones18 June 2024 13:40

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France provide Kylian Mbappe injury update after suffering broken nose at Euro 2024

France captain Kylian Mbappe does not require surgery and will play with a mask at Euro 2024 to protect his “broken nose” after being left covered in blood in his side’s 1-0 win over Austria.

The victory was overshadowed by Mbappe’s worrying facial injury in the closing stages of the match in Dusseldorf. The Real Madrid superstar, who was booked after re-entering the pitch following treatment, was pictured leaving the stadium in an ambulance after the game.

France have detailed the diagnosis for Mbappe and the next steps before Les Bleus face Netherlands in Leipzig on Friday.

Mike Jones18 June 2024 13:34

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