Sports
Where to watch Portugal vs. Watch Czech Republic: UEFA Euro 2024 Group F live stream online, TV channel, prediction
A favorable group stage draw, a side blessed with talent from front to back and impressive form in competitive matches: on paper, Portugal should have everything it takes to win the European Championships. Whether these components can be turned into a winning squad is perhaps the only question hanging over the 2016 champions.
Much could depend on the impact of Cristiano Ronaldo, who will make history as the first player to participate in six European Championships. The number of goals for the record goalscorer in men’s international football since his move to Al-Nassr continues to flow in steadily, but questions remain over whether his presence hinders the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Rafael Leao. All of these players are expected to start well against the Czech Republic, who finished second in a relatively favorable qualifying group and made a good start to 2024 in their friendly warm-up matches. Here’s how to watch the match and what you need to know:
View information
- Date: Sunday June 16 | Time: 3:00 PM ET
- Place: Leipzig Stadium – Leipzig, Germany
- TV: Foxsport 1 | Live stream: Fubo (try for free)
- Chances: Portugal -200; Sign +340; Czech Republic +550
Group E prospects
Portugal look to be heavy favorites to escape Group E and do so in style as none of the other three teams they will face are in the top 35 of the FIFA world rankings. Roberto Martinez’s team is currently in sixth place. The Czechs have had a lot of success at the European Championships in recent times, reaching the quarter-finals three years ago thanks to the goalscoring form of Bayer Leverkusen’s Patrik Schick.
Turkey were considered dark horses for that tournament but instead crashed out without a point to their name, their only goal coming when they were well on course to be beaten by Switzerland. For Georgia, there are no such disappointments to make up for. The Crusaders, coached by a former French international, are indeed playing in their first major international tournament.
Team news
Portugal: With Ronaldo expected to start the opener, the big question for Martinez will be how to surround him with the best mix of talent. Rafael Leao and Joao Felix will compete for a spot on the left wing, Bernardo Silva probably on the right. Ronaldo is not the only veteran looking to keep his place: 41-year-old Pepe is in line to start ahead of Goncalo Inacio at the back alongside Ruben Dias.
Possible Portugal XI: Coast; Cancelo, Pepe, Dias, Mendes; Palhinha, Vitinha; Silva, Fernandes, Leao; Ronaldo
Czech Republic: There is always a bizarre injury in the run-up to a major tournament. The goal is to make sure it’s not you. As such, Michal Sadilek should have avoided the bike ride he took a day after captaining his country as he suffered a serious injury that meant he would miss the European Championship. In his place, Tomas Soucek, Lukas Provod and Antonin Barak expect the third place in midfield for Ivan Hasek’s team.
Possible Czech Republic XI: Stanek; Gaten, Hranac, Krejci; Coufal, Soucek, Provod, Barak, D. Jurasek; Kuchta, Schick
Prediction
Expect this tournament to start in the usual manner for Portugal, which should get the job done in rather disappointing fashion. CHOOSE: Portugal 2, Czech Republic 0
