At 0:00 on June 23rd, the second round of Group F in the European Championship will see Turkey face Portugal at the Dortmund BVB Stadium.
After going winless in their last five games across all competitions, Turkey managed to defeat Georgia, making their first appearance in the European Championship, with a score of 3-1. This victory serves as a good omen for the “Crescent Stars” as they have consistently lost their opening match in all five previous European Championship campaigns. Real Madrid prodigy Arda Güler, with his stunning goal, marked his arrival on the continental stage and became the first teenager to score on his European Championship debut since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2004. Güler was 19 years and 114 days old when he scored, making him the fifth youngest goalscorer in the history of the European Championship.
Turkish coach Vincenzo Montella, celebrating his 50th birthday with a victory, expressed the need for his team to improve their attacking efficiency, highlighting their 8 shots on target out of 22 attempts. He promised his players “not to miss so many chances in future games.”
From June 2022 to present, Turkey has only suffered two defeats in 15 official matches. Their ambition is to secure a spot in the knockout stages in the upcoming round. However, facing a formidable Portugal, their disadvantages are undeniable. Turkey has faced Portugal in the main European Championship tournament three times, in 1996, 2000, and 2008, losing all three encounters without scoring a single goal.
Portugal, cruising through the European Championship qualification with a perfect record of 10 wins in 10 matches, had a tougher time in their opening European Championship match. They managed to secure a valuable three points with a last-minute goal from substitute Gonçalo Ramos against the Czech Republic.
Despite the struggle, Portugal coach Roberto Martínez believes the victory was “deserved,” and he praised his team’s reaction after going behind. Veteran players Cristiano Ronaldo and Pepe, whose combined age exceeds 80 years, will likely be pleased with the win, as they remain hopeful for a repeat of their 2016 triumph.
While temporarily placed second in their group due to goal difference, and with only one clean sheet in their last six games, Portugal should be confident in defeating Turkey. They have won their last six encounters with Turkey, including four victories with at least a two-goal margin.
In terms of lineups, Turkey will likely field the same starting eleven as their first match, with Güler and İrfan Can Eğribayat providing support for forward Burak Yılmaz. In midfield, captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu’s partner is likely to be Dortmund midfielder Emre Özjan, who will be all too familiar with the stadium. On the backline, Çağlar Söyüncü and Merih Demiral are in contention for a starting place. However, Montella will need to carefully consider whether to make changes to the backline after a winning performance. Portugal has no new injury concerns, and Martínez will stick with his 3-4-3 formation. Vitinha, who impressed in the first game, will maintain his starting spot. Captain Ronaldo will once again lead the line, with the support of Bernardo Silva and Rafael Leão, aiming to become the oldest goalscorer in European Championship history.
Both Turkey and Portugal are ready to field a full squad in the second round of group matches. The outcome of this game will have a crucial impact on who tops the group. The answer will be revealed at the Dortmund BVB Stadium tonight.
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