Euro 2024: Still Ron

Turkey - Georgia 3 - 1

Portugal - Czechia 2-1

Not to be negative or disrespectful, but I do feel that in Turkey - Georgia we have seen two of the poorest teams at this tournament. The game was open and pleasant enough, but there was a lot of defensive naivety, especially on the Georgian side, and it felt like the overall level was a notch under most other games at the tournament. Turkey dominated, as they were expected to, but conceded less than 10 minutes after opening the scoring, and Georgia can consider themselves unlucky for having hit the bar twice.

The biggest takeaway from the game is Arda Guler's long-range goal, truly a thing of beauty. No wonder Real Madrid snatched the kid. There might well be a brilliant Turkish generation in the making here, but I don't feel this is the tournament where they will shine.

And for the third goal... yes, it's true, there isn't much difference between 2-1 and 3-1, that's why the Georgian keeper stayed up, but you have a whole continent watching you, and one thing you don't want as a tournament debut is to be included in a bloopers reel. This is pretty much the highlight so far. The midfielder who intercepted the ball before the goal, Altunashvili... dude, if your keeper is out, don't try to dribble, just keep it safe. It's these moments when the lack of experience really shows.

***

Already made a Holeš pun last Euro

By contrast, I thought Portugal - Czechia was a really entertaining match, dare I say THE most entertaining so far? Not as high-scoring as others, but it was never meant to be. The two teams are very evenly balanced, somewhat surprisingly. I suppose Portugal should be considered favorites, but the Czechs always give a really good account of themselves.

I'd completely forgotten about him, but as soon as I heard the name Schick, memories of the brilliant tournament the Czech forward had 3 years ago came back. He didn't make as big a mark on this game as on the last Euro tournament, but there's still time. 

Portugal only just snatched the win, and it does feel deserved, though one must also feel for the Czechs. A really unfortunate own goal to be drawn level at 1, then Portugal snatched the winner in injury time, with the keeper caught wrong-footed and the defenders not yet aware of the new substitute Conceicao, who scored with his first touch of the ball. Conceicao's reaction shows how much it meant for Portugal, who put a strong display in, but struggled to dominate a stubborn opponent. 

I suppose I should support Portugal more, at the end of the day they have the most United players in the starting line-up. But for every Bruno Fernandes there's a Diogo Jota, and - as you know - I have very mixed feelings about Ronaldo. Who, at 39 years of age, is still the biggest attacking threat in a team otherwise full of flair and attacking intent.

I'd be really surprised if Portugal and Czechia don't finish first and second in the group, but the order in which they do it is the difference between potentially playing France or a third place in the next round. And Portugal took a really strong option for first place last night.