There are some unbelievable stats football has to offer, like the one that Lamine Yamal was a newborn when Pepe and Cristiano Ronaldo met for the first time at Portugal’s national team camp in 2007.Today, all three represent their respective countries, Spain and Portugal, at the EURO 2024. Young Lamine already proved himself with a remarkable performance against Croatia, and the time is now for the veteran duo to shine on the biggest stage.Historical night in Champions League 🏆✨👦🏻 Lamine Yamal, youngest player in a UCL knockout game with 16 years, 223 days. 👴🏻 Pepe, oldest outfield starter in a UCL knockout game with 40 years and 360 days.Lamine, born 2 years after Pepe played his first UCL KO game. pic.twitter.com/1K2EQrTSzk— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 22, 2024 It will be CR7’s – believe it or not – sixth European Championship, while the unbreakable defender makes his fifth appearance on the continental showpiece.Their sensational experience could prove crucial for Portugal’s highest ambitions, as the EURO 2016 winners hope to recreate some of that magic. Led by the former Belgium coach Roberto Martinez, they are kickstarting their campaign on Tuesday night against the Czech Republic in Leipzig (10 PM).They have one of the most experienced sides in the tournament (the average age of Portugal’s expected starting XI is 29.7 years), while their rivals are the youngest (25.3), with just two players at the age of 30 or older.I know I don’t have much time left in football, every year after 35 is a giftThe 39-year-old Al-Nassr forward, though, couldn’t care less about that, as he’s also on a mission to become the oldest player ever to score at Euros.”Cristiano is on the team on merit. No one gets in by having a name,” Martinez said. “He scored 51 goals in 50 games, and he scored 10 in qualifying.”For us, he’s a goalscorer, someone who can make that final move, stretch defenders, open spaces. He has changed his way of playing slightly, but he’s in on merit and the numbers are there to back that up.”##NAJAVA_MECA_8167923##Martinez added: “We need to dream big. We must believe. I brought seven shirts (to Germany), not three.”We have to make the best use of our talent, but we need to show what we can do off the ball, we need to be mentally very strong and overcome hurdles.”I think the team is ready, but we’re not yet at peak performance. We can only be there after these first three matches.”In truth, Portugal lost their ultimate pre-Euro friendly to Croatia 2-1, but it should not worry Martinez too much, as he’s got plenty of exquisite, talented players to partner with those veterans, such as Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, Rafael Leao, Joao Felix…EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP – GROUP STAGETuesday19.00: (1.85) Turkey (3.50) Georgia (4.40)22.00: (1.55) Portugal (4.00) Czech R. (6.25)Wednesday16.00: (1.53) Croatia (3.90) Albania (7.00)19.00: (1.35) Germany (4.90) Hungary (9.50)22.00: (3.70) Scotland (3.40) Switzerland (2.05)Thursday 16.00: (4.10) Slovenia (3.50) Serbia (2.00)19.00: (5.60) Denmark (3.70) England (1.65)22.00: (2.30) Spain (3.30) Italy (3.20)***odds are subject to change***
