Euro 2024: Portugal’s Complete Match-by-Match Journey

Portugal arrived at Euro 2024 in Germany as one of the pre-tournament favorites, boasting a squad brimming with talent and a captain chasing yet another piece of international silverware. Under the guidance of Roberto Martinez, the Seleção navigated a group stage that promised goals, faced a stern test in the knockout rounds, and ultimately exited with a sense of what might have been. Here is a complete breakdown of every Portugal match at the tournament.

Group Stage: Dominance and a Surprise Slip

Drawn into Group F alongside Turkey, the Czech Republic, and Georgia, Portugal was widely expected to top the group. They began with a late victory, then produced a scintillating attacking display, before a shock defeat in their final group game raised questions about their momentum.

Portugal 2-1 Czech Republic (June 18, Leipzig)

Portugal’s tournament opener was far from a classic. The Czech Republic took a shock lead through a deflected strike from Lukáš Provod, silencing the Portuguese fans in the Red Bull Arena. Martinez’s side responded with patience, and the equalizer came from an unlikely source. A cross from Nuno Mendes was turned into his own net by Czech defender Robin Hranáč. With the game heading for a draw, a moment of brilliance from substitute Francisco Conceição secured the win. The young Porto winger, brought on in the second half, latched onto a pass from Diogo Jota and fired home in the 92nd minute, sparking wild celebrations.

Turkey 0-3 Portugal (June 22, Dortmund)

This was Portugal’s most complete performance of the group stage. Bernardo Silva opened the scoring in the 21st minute, finishing off a slick team move. The game was effectively put to bed before halftime when a mix-up between Turkish defender Samet Akaydin and goalkeeper Altay Bayındır allowed Bruno Fernandes to tap into an empty net. In the second half, Portugal cruised. A stunning strike from Rafael Leão, who cut inside and curled the ball into the far corner, added gloss to the scoreline. The 3-0 victory secured top spot in the group with a game to spare, allowing Martinez to rest key players for the final group match.

Georgia 2-0 Portugal (June 26, Gelsenkirchen)

With qualification already secured, Martinez made nine changes to the starting lineup. The experiment backfired as a rotated Portugal side looked disjointed. Georgia, playing in their first major tournament, took a first-half lead through a penalty converted by Georges Mikautadze after a foul by AntĂłnio Silva. The same defender was sent off in the second half for a second bookable offense, leaving Portugal with ten men. Georgia sealed the historic win when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia raced clear and finished coolly. While the result was a shock, it served as a wake-up call for the team, reminding them that no match at this level can be taken lightly.

Knockout Stage: The Road to the Quarter-Finals

Finishing first in the group placed Portugal in the more favorable half of the draw, but their path to the latter stages was still fraught with danger.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia (AET, Portugal win 3-0 on penalties) – Round of 16 (July 1, Frankfurt)

This was a frustrating night for Portugal. They dominated possession and created chances, but Slovenia’s deep defensive block and the brilliance of goalkeeper Jan Oblak kept them at bay. The match saw a moment of high drama in the first period of extra time when Diogo Jota was fouled in the box, earning a penalty. Cristiano Ronaldo stepped up, but his spot-kick was saved by Oblak. The 39-year-old was visibly emotional, but his teammates rallied around him. In the shootout, Ronaldo converted his penalty, and goalkeeper Diogo Costa became the hero. Costa saved all three Slovenia penalties