Ruthless Portugal punish Turkey errors to march into knockout phase

Portugal eased into the last 16 of Euro 2024 as Group F winners with a dominant 3-0 victory over a tormented and tortured Turkey side at the BVB Stadion Dortmund.

The impressive Euro 2016 winners deservedly moved ahead when Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva scored his first goal at a European Championship when he thumped a deflected cross from Nuno Mendes beyond goalkeeper Altay Bayindir from 10 yards on 21 minutes.

A promising day got worse for Vincenzo Montella’s Turkey seven minutes later when Bayindir came out of his goal to collect a simple pass from Samet Akaydin only for his defender to needlessly turn the ball into his own net without looking as the back pass ended up well over the line before his team-mates could clear.

The game was finished as a contest by that stage, but the self-harming Turkey defence was cut open again on 55 minutes when Cristiano Ronaldo beat the offside trap before squaring for Bruno Fernandes to tap the third into the net to complete the oppositions’ day of misery.

Roberto Martinez’s side are through to the knockout phase with a game to spare before they face Georgia on Wednesday night while Turkey will require at least a point against Czech Republic to secure their passage to the last 16.

Much has been made of host nation Germany and Spain’s performance in expressing themselves with genuine quality and pace, but this was the night when Portugal showed they also possess the class to make a real push for the title.

Having conquered Europe in 2016, Portugal know how to get the job done in this competition and also have the advantage of being able to rest key men in their final Group F match against Georgia before the pressure cranks up in the knockout phase.

With the buzzing Manchester City playmaker Bernardo Silva very much to the fore against Turkey, there is a wonderful sense of self-expression about Portugal that will make them difficult to dislodge.

41 is the new 31 for central defenders when you look at the organisation, reading of the game and timing of the tackle that the Porto central defender brings to the game. An outstanding performance at the back for Roberto Martinez’s side that prompted a standing ovation for the former Real Madrid man from the large Turkey support. It was richly deserved as he was replaced late on by Antonio Silva.

Turkey: Bayindir 6, Celik 5, Akaydin 5, Bardakci 5, Kadioglu 5, Calhanoglu 5, Ayhan 5, Kokcu 5, Akturkoglu 5, Akgun 5, Yilmaz 5 Subs: Demiral 6, Yazici 6, Yüksek 6, Yildiz 6, Güler 5

Portugal: Diogo Costa 7, Diaz 7, Pepe 9, Mendes 8, Palhinha 7, Vitinha 7, Fernandes 8, Cancelo 8, Bernardo Silva 9, Ronaldo 8, Leao 7 Subs: Antonio Silva 7, Semedo 7, Rúben Neves 7, João Neves 7, Neto 7

7′ GLORIOUS CHANCE FOR TURKEY TO TAKE LEAD Well, how they haven’t scored in that attack is a minor miracle as Kerem Aktürkoglu comes in at the back post, but somehow can’t connect from four yards out. Slipped at the key moment from Yunus Akgün’s cross. Portgual fortunate to survive that as they frantically hack the ball clear.

21′ GOAL! (SILVA) PORTUGAL 1-0 TURKEY Lovely finish from Bernardo Silva as he slams a deflected cross into the net from 10 yards after the ball broke to him via the Nuno Mendes run and pass. Lovely lead-up play by Leao too. Portugal have the lead.

28′ GOAL! (AKAYDI OG) PORTUGAL 2-0 TURKEY Disaster for Turkey as they present a second goal to Portugal on a plate. Samet Akaydin doesn’t look racing back and knocks the ball past his keeper as Bayindir came out. Can’t get back in time to rescue the situation, and the ball is over the line. That is a horrific moment. 2-0 to Portugal.

56′ GOAL! (FERNANDES) PORTUGAL 3-0 TURKEY And that is surely game, set and match as Turkey’s defence is ripped open by a hopeful ball from the back and Ronaldo, well onside, squares with ease for Bruno Fernandes to tap the ball into the net. Turkey all over the place playing Portugal onside. More horrific moments.

72′ NETO TRYING TO FIND RONALDO Ronaldo has just posed for a quick selfie with a young fan who invades the pitch, but races away from several security guards. Neto tries to pick out the great man with a cross, but Bardakci does the clearing work.