PLAYER RATINGS: Which Premier League star needs to do more for Portugal? How did Cristiano Ronaldo fare in attack? And Czechia defender is left to rue TWO costly mistakes
Portugal produced one of the most one-sided performances of Euro 2024 yet, only securing victory in a dramatic moment in stoppage time.
Youngster Francisco Conceicao came off the bench to win the match for Portugal on a night when they boasted 74 percent possession against a stubborn Czech team.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Co were stunned when they fell behind to a miracle strike from Lukas Provod, but they responded impressively to turn the match on its head.
An own goal put them back on level terms and Ronaldo thought he had beaten Diogo Jota to win the match late on, only for semi-automated offside technology to kick in and direct the header to the Liverpool man offside.
Here, Mail Sport’s NATHAN SALT takes charge of the two teams…
Twenty-one-year-old Francisco Conceicao (center) was the match winner for Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo (left) was one of the first to congratulate the youngster on his late winner
PORTUGAL (3-5-2)
Diogo Costa-6
Forty-five minutes passed without him getting a shot on target and he was a spectator in Leipzig until he was defeated by a stunning goal. Will be scratching his head because he didn’t leave the field with a clean sheet, such was the dominance.
Nuno Mendes – 7
Starting on the left of a back three before being pushed further forward as Portugal fell behind, the PSG full-back saw plenty of the ball and was more than willing to move on as a ball carrier. His header at the back post equalized in his own goal.
Pepe-6
At the age of 41, he set a record as the oldest player to appear at a European Championship, but he did not look out of place among the sea of young players. Was able to watch Portugal dominate for the most part, but was undone by a special attack.
Pepe (left) set a record as the oldest player to appear at a European Championship at the age of 41
Ruben Dias – 6.5
In fact, he had very little to do and he will know that much tougher defensive assignments will follow. He is a calming presence and provides good leadership for coach Roberto Martinez.
João Cancelo – 6
He was given the license to roam such was Portugal’s dominance and the former Man City full-back spent much of the match in attacking areas. His best moment was a beautifully disguised pass to play into Bernardo Silva, but he needs to do more in the final third to deserve to play there.
Vitinha – 6.5
A gem of a player who can turn on a stamp. His one-touch passing game can turn heads and there were flashes here and there as to why he was named in the Champions League team of the season. However, it should become more decisive as the tournament progresses.
Bruno Fernandes-7.5
The pulse of this team and he should have recorded his first assist when he flashed the ball across the penalty area for a sliding Rafael Leao in the first half. He led this match as Portugal’s quarterback and is the player all his teammates have been looking for in an attempt to open up the Czech Republic. MOTM
Bruno Fernandes continued to demand the ball and was Portugal’s quarterback that evening
Bernardo Silva – 6.5
Neat and tidy as he always is, but he didn’t do enough here to break the stubborn Czech rearguard. Should have shot instead of passing into the area when Cancelo made a smart play.
Diogo Dalot-6
Has shown a willingness to drift inside at Manchester United and that was enough here, with little defensive work to do before being sent off just after the hour mark. Needs to do better with his cross with Ronaldo, a constant target.
Cristiano Ronaldo-6.5
He scored ten goals in qualifying and should have had at least another goal to his name here had it not been for a few bad finishes. Has made some really smart runs to create space for himself, but no longer has the threat of running behind, which helps his markers.
Rafael Leao-7
Should have made it 1-0, but could not connect with Bruno Fernandes’ wonderful cross on the slide in the first half. It was surprising to see him leave as Portugal’s first transfer, but he found himself walking a tightrope after being embarrassingly booked for diving.
BUSINESS: Roberto Martinez – 8
Deserves huge credit for the match-winning impact his substitutions have made. He will be under scrutiny at this tournament given the talent he has at his disposal and seeing his changes pay off will be a huge boost for him and anyone of Portuguese persuasion.
Roberto Martinez (left) deserves a lot of credit as his substitutions paid off
SUBS
Diogo Jota (for Rafael Leao, 63) – 6
Gonçalo Inacio (for Diogo Dalot, 63) – 6
Nelson Semedo (for Nuno Mendes, 90)
Pedro Neto (for Joao Cancelo, 90)
Francisco Conceição (for Vitinha, 90)
CZECH REPUBLIC (3-5-2)
Jindrich Stanek-6
He made a huge save to deny Ronaldo one-on-one at 0-0, but it was his mistake that set up Robin Hranac’s own goal. He had to catch the ball when he panicked and parried the soaking ball through his center back.
Ladislav Krejci – 6.5
The 25-year-old had his hands full but was largely up to the task as he was isolated and targeted by Portugal. Credit must be given for keeping him under pressure from the first whistle to the last.
Robin Hranac-5
Can count himself very unlucky if he scores an own goal after seeing the ball pushed towards him by the goalkeeper. The back three did well for the most part to create a wall, but his own goal – and his slip for the second – were costly.
Robin Hranac was left to rue an own goal and a late slip that led to Portugal’s two goals
Tomas holes – 6.5
Was busy covering Cancelo and Rafael Leao on Portugal’s left and made some crucial interceptions. He gets a lot of praise for taking on the toughest assignment.
David Doudera-5.5
Was a relative non-factor on the evening, but he wasn’t alone in that. There should be more joy against Turkey and Georgia.
Lukas Provod – 6.5
Produced the miracle strike that will go down in Czech football folklore. His finish was all the more remarkable considering he spent much of the match without the ball.
Tomas Soucek-6
Played every minute of their qualifying campaign and is so important for this team. A phenomenal header to deny Ronaldo an almost certain goal at 0-0 set the tone for others to follow. The West Ham man will have to grow up if the Czech Republic is to progress.
Pavel Sulc-5
He spent his evening chasing shadows across midfield in bustling Leipzig. By the time he was released, he had very little left in the tank and he hopes he can have a greater influence on the outcome of the group’s supposedly ‘easier’ matches.
Pavel Sulc (right) spent most of the evening chasing shadows as the Czech Republic had little possession
Vladimir Coufal – 5.5
The West Ham man looked nervous early on with some very loose touches in his own third, but soon settled down. It will have to become a bigger threat in the future to help supply the strikers.
Jan Kuchta – 4.5
Was a passenger during the hour he spent on the field. It must be so demoralizing when your team only has 25 percent of the ball and almost none of it goes to you. Had to pay entrance fee.
Patrik Schick-5
In the few moments that the Czech Republic managed to touch the ball while on the pitch, the Bayer Leverkusen striker was far too wasteful in giving it away. Was the first player to get hooked after picking up a yellow card in the pouring rain.
COACH: Ivan Hasek – 6.5
He knew that his team would have little possession of the ball and at 1-1 he would have been happy to have taken that point as a building block. His substitutions ultimately didn’t work as well as Martinez’s.
SUBS
Ondrej Lingr (for Jan Kuchta, 60) – 6.5
Mojmar Chytil (for Patrik Schick, 61) – 5
Antonin Barak (for Pavel Sulc, 79)
Petr Sevcik (for Lukas Provod, 79)
Tomas Chory (for Tomas Holes, 90+3)