Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal are set to face Turkey in their second Group F game at Euro 2024. Both teams opened with wins, Portugal edging out Czechia 2-1 and Turkey defeating Georgia 3-1.
Portugal faced a defensive Czechia team in Leipzig but expects more space against an attacking Turkey side. This could give Ronaldo and his teammates more opportunities going forward. Ronaldo, now 39, is a guaranteed starter under coach Roberto Martinez and will aim to add to his record 14 goals in European Championships.
Turkey’s young star, Arda Guler, from Real Madrid, is one to watch. He scored a stunning goal against Georgia, becoming the youngest debut scorer at a European Championship, although he will have a substitute appearance at best for this game. Turkey will have strong fan support again at Dortmund’s Westfalenstadion, where their fans created a sea of red against Georgia.
A win for either team could secure first place in the group, especially if Georgia and Czechia draw in their earlier match. Portugal has a strong record against Turkey, winning their last six competitive matches and all three previous Euro meetings.
Martinez has his full squad in training, with Joao Palhinha claiming a midfield spot. Turkey’s Irfan Can Kahveci remains sidelined with an injury. Portugal defender Pepe, at 41, is the oldest player to feature in a European Championship.
Expect an exciting clash with high stakes in Dortmund.
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Australia’s sole broadcaster for Euro 2024 is Optus Sport, meaning this match will be shown on the streaming platform.
If Turkey vs. Portugal is not available to watch live in your location, or if you’re traveling abroad, you can use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). VPNs offer a secure and private online connection, allowing you to bypass geographical restrictions to access your favourite streaming services from any device anywhere in the world.
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This Euro 2024 match kicks off from the Signal-Iduna-Park on June 22 at 6:00 p.m. local time in Dortmund.
Here’s how that time translates across all of the time zones in Australia:
Date | Kickoff time | |
Australian Eastern Standard Time | Sun, Jun. 23 | 2:00 a.m. (AEST) |
Australian Central Standard Time | Sun, Jun. 23 | 1:30 a.m. (ACST) |
Australian Western Standard Time | Sun, Jun. 23 | 12:00 a.m. (AWST) |
Turkey’s rising stars Arda Guler and Kenan Yildiz, who starred in their win over Georgia, are only fit enough for the bench for this one.
Captain Hakan Calhanoglu will take on a deeper midfield role alongside Kaan Ayhan, and coach Vincenzo Montella brings in Yunus Akgun and Muhammed Akturkoglu in the wide attacking roles.
There’s also a change in goal, as Manchester United’s Altay Bayindir comes in.
Turkey (4-2-3-1, right to left): Bayindir (GK) — Celik, Akaydin, Bardakci, Kadioglu — Ayhan, Calhanoglu — Akgun, Kokcu, Akturkoglu — Yilmaz.
For Portugal, coach Roberto Martinez switches to a 4-3-3, which had been anticipated even though he claimed on Friday he had not decided on his system. Diogo Dalot drops out, with Joao Cancelo moving to right-back. Joao Palhina comes in to anchor the midfield.
Vitinha produced a stellar performance alongside Bruno Fernandes against Czechia, meaning Joao Palhinha, Joao Neves, and Ruben Neves are on the bench again. Bernardo Silva and Rafael Leao will once more try to supply Cristiano Ronaldo with the ammunition.
Portugal (4-3-3, right to left): Costa (GK) — Cancelo, Pepe, Dias, Mendes — Fernandes, Palhinha, Vitinha — Bernardo Silva, Ronaldo, Leao.
Both Turkey and Portugal are brimming with confidence as they head into this crucial match, eager to secure three points and a spot in the knockout rounds with a game to spare.
Fans can expect an entertaining clash filled with goal-scoring opportunities, given both teams’ attacking prowess and recent defensive vulnerabilities. While Turkey’s youthful flair and determination will make it a close contest, Portugal’s stronger lineup should ultimately see them edge out a victory.