Portugal’s 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic in their opening European Championship match has garnered widespread attention from international media.
Germany’s Die Welt, under the headline “Portugal Avoids a Disastrous Start in the European Championship,” detailed the tense nature of the match, highlighting the decisive strike by young Francisco Conceição, a goal that saved the day for a Portuguese team boasting superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.
Italy’s Gazzetta dello Sport used a contrasting title: “Everyone’s Eyes Were on Ronaldo, but Young Conceição Saved Portugal with a Last-Minute Goal,” emphasizing the role reversal between Ronaldo and Conceição. La Repubblica echoed this theme with its headline: “Cristiano Ronaldo Searches for Goals in Vain, Conceição Breaks Through in the Final Stage.”
Italy’s Corriere della Sera also focused on Conceição’s heroics while acknowledging Ronaldo’s contributions: “Ronaldo Misses, Portugal Still Celebrates Victory,” the article recalling Ronaldo’s active participation and his positive interactions with the fans in the stadium.
Brazil’s O Globo particularly highlighted two new records established by Portugal: “Ronaldo Becomes the Only Player to Compete in Six European Championships, While Teammate Pepe Breaks the Record for the Oldest Player to Appear in the Tournament.”
The UK’s The Guardian described the match as a “rollercoaster,” noting that Portugal dominated possession but struggled to find their best form. The paper also praised the Czech Republic’s stubborn resistance, stating, “Their unrelenting effort kept the game in suspense.”
Belgium’s Le Soir succinctly summarized the match with the headline “Portugal Wins First Match in a Close Contest.”
Spain’s El País emphasized Ronaldo’s leadership role: “Ronaldo May Have Failed to Score, But He Showed Leadership to Help His Team Escape Danger.”
Overall, international media generally agreed that while Portugal’s performance was underwhelming, they emerged victorious thanks to Conceição’s decisive strike. Although Ronaldo was goalless, his leadership and record-breaking achievements continue to receive positive reviews from the media.
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