The battle for Group F supremacy will see Turkey and Portugal locking horns at the Westfalenstadion in Dortmund this Saturday evening. Both sides got their campaigns off to a winning start on matchday one and will be looking to book a spot in the Euro 2024 knockouts with a win.
Turkey emerged victorious against tournament newcomers Georgia with a 3-1 scoreline, while Portugal staged a dramatic comeback to defeat Czech Republic 2-1. As both teams set sights on continuing our winning run, have a look at our Turkey vs Portugal preview.
Turkey vs Portugal Preview-How the Teams Look Ahead of the Tie
Turkey
Despite a five-game winless run heading into Euro 2024 and a worrying history of opening-match defeats at the tournament, Turkey defied the odds with a commanding victory over Georgia.
Georgia threatened an upset after Georges Mikautadze responded to Mert Muldur’s first-half opener. However, the stage belonged to Real Madrid starlet Arda Guler. His thunderous strike in the 65th minute announced him on the continental stage in style.
The 19-year-old sensation etched his name in Euros history, becoming the fifth-youngest scorer (19 years, 114 days) and the first teenager to score on his Euros debut since a young Cristiano Ronaldo in 2004.
Kerem Akturgoglu sealed the win for Turkey deep into stoppage time, tapping home a third goal after coming off the bench. The jubilant celebrations were a perfect birthday present for head coach Vincenzo Montella, who turned 50 on the same day.
Portugal
Despite boasting a perfect record in Euro 2024 qualifying, Portugal found themselves staring down defeat in their opening Group F clash on Monday. The Czechs, underdogs in this encounter, took a surprise lead midway through the second half.
Lukas Provod unleashed a stunning long-range curler that found the net off the far post in the 62nd minute. However, their joy was short-lived. Just seven minutes later, Nuno Mendes’ header forced a desperate save from Jindrich Stanek, only for the ball to ricochet off Robin Hranec and into the net for an unfortunate own goal.
A late surge from Portugal saw them snatch all three points in a dramatic turn of events. Substitute Francisco Conceicao, thrown into the fray just minutes before, etched his name into the history books with a winning goal in the 92nd minute. This strike marked a special moment for the Conceicao family, coming 24 years to the day after his father, Sergio (a Porto legend), scored a hat-trick against Germany at Euro 2000. It was also Conceicao’s first competitive match for his country.
Turkey vs Portugal Preview-Team News
Turkey
Captain Hakan Calhanoglu is set for a deeper midfield role alongside Kaan Ayhan, but manager Vincenzo Montella could be tempted to switch things up. Salih Ozcan (Borussia Dortmund) and Okay Yokuslu (West Bromwich Albion) offer alternatives to Ayhan.
Portugal
Roberto Martinez is likely to bring back the 3-4-3 formation used against Czech Republic. This could see Nuno Mendes slotting in on the left side of the back three alongside the experienced pairing of Pepe and Ruben Dias. Diogo Dalot and Joao Cancelo would then continue their duties as wing-backs. Cristiano Ronaldo will spearhead the attack once again and look to become the oldest goalscorer in the history of the competition.
Turkey vs Portugal Prediction
Both teams are buzzing with confidence ahead of this crucial clash. A win for either side would significantly boost their chances of reaching the knockout stages with a game to spare. This promises to be an entertaining encounter between two attack-minded sides, although both have shown defensive frailties recently. However, Portugal have a clear edge in terms of individual talent and should ultimately prevail.
Our Turkey vs Portugal prediction is a 3-2 victory for Portugal.
