Cristiano Ronaldo Begins Final Euro Quest as Portugal Face Czech Republic in Group F Clash
Cristiano Ronaldo, the legendary Portuguese forward, will begin his sixth and final European Championship campaign when Portugal take on the Czech Republic in a crucial Group F encounter tonight. The 39-year-old, who won the Euros in 2016, is the competition’s all-time leading scorer and appearance maker, as he prepares for one last shot at continental glory.
Ronaldo, who recently broke a Saudi Pro League scoring record, will be flanked by a talented group of young players as Portugal, led by manager Roberto Martinez, aim to build on their unbeaten qualifying campaign. The Selecao das Quinas scored the most goals while conceding the fewest during the qualification phase, making them a strong contender for the title.
The Group F Showdown
The Group F showdown between Portugal and the Czech Republic will take place at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, Germany, with kick-off scheduled for 8pm UK time on Tuesday, June 18th. talkSPORT will provide full live coverage of the match, with Adrian Durham presenting and commentary from Jim Proudfoot and former England captain Stuart Pearce. The game will also be available to watch on BBC One.
Ronaldo, who is the most capped male player in international football history with over 200 appearances for his country, is one of seven forward players included in Martinez’s 26-man squad. Veteran defender Pepe, at the age of 41, is also named in the squad, while Bayern Munich left-back Raphael Guerreiro is sidelined due to injury. Manchester City’s Matheus Nunes was a late call-up to the squad after Otavio’s withdrawal.
The Czech Republic Challenge
While Portugal boast a wealth of talent, the Czech Republic lacks standout stars, with Premier League fans familiar with the likes of West Ham duo Vladimir Coufal and Tomas Soucek. However, the form of striker Patrik Schick could prove crucial to the Czech’s chances at the tournament. The 28-year-old Bayer Leverkusen forward recovered from injury troubles to play a key role in his club’s historic Bundesliga title triumph.
As Ronaldo approaches his 40th birthday, Portugal boss Martinez has highlighted the continued importance of the legendary striker to his side’s ambitions. “As for Cristiano Ronaldo, I think it’s better to talk about statistics. A player who scores 42 goals in 41 games for his club shows continuity, a physical ability to always be fit and quality in front of goal that we really like and need.”
With Ronaldo determined to end his international career on a high, Portugal will be hoping to lift the trophy at Euro 2024. However, they face a tough challenge in a competitive Group F, which also includes Switzerland and the winner of the play-off between Spain and Italy.
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