Ahead of the last 90 minutes in Group F, Portugal is carefree since Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. certainly top the group. Two triumphs, over the Czech Republic and Turkey, showed that Roberto Martínez’s squad is one of the biggest title contenders, hoping for the 2016 outcome all over again. Turkey has three points, and even a draw against the Czechs would be enough for the round of 16, while the Czech Republic and Georgia need a victory to avoid elimination.Who will finish top of Group F?!#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/21X9ktWaiI— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) May 22, 2024 In the round of 16, the Portuguese will probably face Hungary, although Slovenia is also a possible rival, depending on the outcome of the last-round matches in Groups E and F. Former European champions want to finish the group stage with a perfect score, which only Spain managed to achieve so far. Martínez will probably mix things up and leave Diogo Jota on the bench due to minor injury issues. Apart from him, the Spaniard could also leave Ronaldo out of the starting 11 to keep him fresh for the knockout phase, when he will be of the utmost importance for the national team.Is Mudryk going back to Chelsea already tonight?Danilo Pereira, Matheus Nunes, João Félix and Gonçalo Ramos still didn’t play a single minute at the tournament, so at least one of them is expected to get a chance. Rafael Leão will surely be out of the squad due to suspension due to two yellow cards, both for diving. Considering his poor form in the first two rounds, even his place in the lineup for the round of 16 is questionable.Georgia won a historic point against the Czechs, but Willy Sagnol’s crew wants to cause a sensation. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is currently in poor form, and the team lacks his creation from the wing. Anyway, Georgia needs to win to advance.”Portugal are a fantastic team, with a lot of top players, but even if we only have a small chance to qualify, all my players and me will dream about that until the very end. Just to be here is a big deal for us: it means a lot. Before the competition, if someone said we could still have a chance to qualify going into the last match, I would have taken that in a heartbeat. But it’s only natural to want more now,” said Sagnol at the press conference.Milan’s Leao against Portugal’s Leao – what a differenceA much closer game is expected in Hamburg in a direct showdown for second place and the round of 16. The Czechs have to emerge victorious, while a draw or even a narrow defeat would send the Turks to the knockout phase if Georgia does not surprise the group leaders. The Czech Republic unfortunately succumbed in added time against Portugal, missed many chances against Georgia and in the end barely got a point (1-1), so now it’s to be or not to be for Patrik Schick and his teammates.Turkey beat their tonight’s rival twice in a row, in a friendly match two years ago 2-1 and at the EURO 2016 2-0. Turkish boss Vincenzo Montella cannot count on centre-back Abdülkerim Bardakcı due to two yellow cards. The Italian used to make a lot of changes in the first two rounds, and the team mainly relies on Orkun Kökçü, Hakan Çalhanoğlu and Real Madrid’s youngster Arda Güler.EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP – GROUP STAGEWednesday 19.00: (3.30) Slovakia (2.05) Romania (3.85)19.00: (5.60) Ukraine (3.90) Belgium (1.70)22.00: (7.80) Georgia (5.20) Portugal (1.43)22.00: (2.65) Czech R. (3.40) Turkey (2.80)***odds are subject to change***
