Make way for the new that advances. This is what the match between Portugal and the Czech Republic tells us. The first lights of the match all follow Cristiano Ronaldo, who has reached his sixth European Championship, no one like him. The latest, however, are for Francisco Conceiçao, eighteen years younger, who signed the Portuguese victory under the incessant rain in Leipzig. It’s a fair outcome, after all: the Czechs give up attacking for more than an hour and do the same after having broken the deadlock, the Portuguese can legitimately regret not having ended the first half with a favorable result. The goals all came in the second half. Provod’s prowess opens the scoring, the balance is restored with Hranac’s own goal, who also puts his own spin on Conceiçao’s goal in the final 2-1.
the match
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Martinez leaves Diogo Jota, Gonçalo Ramos and Joao Felix on the bench, fielding a super attacking formation: a 3-4-3 with Cristiano Ronaldo leading the attacking trident, supported by Leao and Bernardo Silva on the wings with Bruno Fernandes behind them and the veteran Pepe in defense. In response, Hasek opts for a decidedly more conservative 3-5-2, with Schick and Kuchta up front. Portugal dictates the law throughout the first half. Ronaldo showed up in the 8th minute, when he weakly headed Leao’s cross wide. As the minutes pass, Bruno Fernandes takes center stage, first frightening Stanek with a deflected shot that ends just over (24′) then rewards Cristiano’s cut – perhaps slightly offside – with a splendid through ball, which is blocked by the providential exit of the goalkeeper (32′). A minute later Cr7 serves Vitinha’s movement with an illuminating heel, on which Hranac’s closure is decisive. Leao is quite active on the left wing, but is guilty of naivety when he tries to induce the referee Guida to make a mistake, simulating a foul contact with Soucek who is not there: he is promptly booked. In injury time, Ronaldo tested Stanek’s reflexes with a left-footed shot into the area, which the Czech goalkeeper did well to block without taking any risks.
the recovery
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The progress of the match does not change upon returning from the locker rooms. Cr7 tries directly on a free kick, but a central trajectory comes out (57′). On the hour mark, Hasek replaced both strikers to bring on Chytil and Lingr. There is no connection, however, with what happens in the 62nd minute: Coufal passes backwards for Provod, who from outside the area unleashes a surgical right-footed shot that enters with the help of the post, for the unlikely advantage of the Republic Czech. Martinez looks for a shock from the bench, removes Leao and Dalot for Inacio and Diogo Jota, raising the position of Nuno Mendes. Portugal increases the pressure and immediately finds the equalizer, favored by this tactical adjustment. The PSG winger stands out in the area, Stanek touches it to Hranac’s shin and the ball caroms into the net in the 69th minute. The goalkeeper also appears to be in difficulty following Bernardo Silva’s sharp shot, opposing him with his body, but instead allows himself to be preferred in diving to meet Vitinha’s long-range shot. The Czechs respond in the 81st minute with Soucek, who closes his left foot too much from the edge and misses the target. In the 87th minute, Martinez’s team only partially enjoyed the comeback: Ronaldo headed the ball, hit the post and Jota reiterated behind the goalkeeper, but Cr7 started a few centimeters beyond the defenders’ line and the goal was disallowed. In the second minute of added time, Francisco Conceiçao, who had entered just a few moments ago, decided the match: Pedro Neto recovered a vital ball and sent a low, strong ball into the centre; Hranac’s intervention is clumsy and doesn’t move away, Sergio’s son thanks him and seals Portugal’s first three points. Honorable mention for Roberto Martinez, who draws wisely from the bench
