Portugal vs Czech Republic Prediction: Expert Analysis and Match Preview
Portugal and Czech Republic will close the curtain on the first round of the group stage at Euro 2024. This exciting match takes place on Tuesday evening at Leipzig Stadium. Can the Portuguese team justify their favorites’ tag?
Portugal’s Dominance in Qualifying
Portugal enters this match with an impeccable record. They won all ten of their qualifying games, showcasing their strength and consistency. The team has also won four of their last five encounters against the Czech Republic, highlighting their dominance.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Impact
Cristiano Ronaldo continues to be a key player for Portugal. He recently scored a fantastic goal in a 3-0 victory over the Republic of Ireland. His presence on the pitch is always a game-changer.
High-Scoring Czech Republic
Czech Republic’s recent matches have been high-scoring affairs, with each of their last five outings producing three or more goals. This trend suggests we could be in for an entertaining match.
Coaching Change for Portugal
Roberto Martinez, who previously managed Belgium’s golden generation, took over the Portuguese team after their shocking loss to Morocco in the 2022 World Cup. Under his leadership, Portugal won all ten games in their Euro qualifying campaign, conceding only two goals.
Czech Republic’s Qualification Journey
Czech Republic shared the top spot in their qualifying group with Albania, Poland, Moldova, and Faroe Islands. This marks their eighth consecutive appearance at the European Championships.
Portugal vs Czech Republic Predicted Lineups and Team News
Both teams have a clean bill of health for this Euro opener, with the exception of Czech midfielder Michal Sadilek, who will miss out due to a bizarre bike accident.
Portugal (4-3-3): Costa – Dalot, Dias, Inacio, Cancelo – Palhinha, Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes – Bernardo Silva, Rafa Leao, Ronaldo
Czech Republic (3-5-2): Stanek – Holes, Hranac, Krejci – Coufal, Hlozek, Soucek, Provod, Doudera – Kuchta, Schick
Portugal to Show Their Strength at the Start
Portugal boasts one of the most talented rosters at Euro 2024. The question is whether they can demonstrate this quality on the pitch. They certainly did during the qualifying campaign, winning all ten matches in their group.
Their confidence was further boosted by a 3-0 victory over the Republic of Ireland in their final pre-Euro friendly. In contrast, the Czech Republic’s narrow 2-1 win over North Macedonia was less convincing.
Portugal’s recent record against the Czech Republic is impressive, with four wins in their last five encounters, including a 4-0 victory in the 2022 Nations League.
Given that each of the Czech Republic’s last five games produced at least three goals, betting on Portugal to win with over 2.5 goals in the match at 2.30 odds seems a solid pick.
Cristiano Ronaldo Keeps Thriving for the National Team
Despite being 39, Cristiano Ronaldo continues to score prolifically for Portugal. The All-Nassr star is expected to lead the line against the Czech Republic. Ronaldo’s recent form, including his performance in the 3-0 win over the Republic of Ireland, suggests he will be a significant threat to the Czech defense.
Backing Ronaldo to score anytime at 1.95 odds offers good value, considering his scoring record and current form.
