Portugal Breeze Past Turkey and Into Euro 2024 Knockout Stage

Bruno Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo

Portugal stormed into the last 16 of Euro 2024 on Saturday with a convincing 3-0 victory over Turkey, securing first place in Group F. Goals from Bernardo Silva, a comical own goal by Samet Akaydin, and a second-half tap-in by Bruno Fernandes sealed a straightforward win for Portugal in front of a passionate crowd in Dortmund.

Dominant Display

Bernardo Silva opened the scoring in the 21st minute with a fine finish, followed shortly by a mishap from Akaydin, whose backpass turned into an own goal. Bruno Fernandes added a third in the second half, assisted by Cristiano Ronaldo. The result showcased Portugal's dominance and underlined their credentials as potential champions, having previously won the tournament in 2016.

Cristiano Ronaldo, 39, remains in pursuit of becoming the oldest goalscorer at a European Championship. Ronaldo unselfishly set up Fernandes for his goal after beating Turkey’s offside trap and later posed for a selfie with a child fan who invaded the pitch.

Looking Ahead

Portugal, with six points from two matches, will face one of the four best third-place finishers in the knockout stage. Their final group game against Georgia is now a formality, with no pressure for a result. In contrast, Turkey must secure at least a draw against the Czech Republic on Wednesday to guarantee second place and advance.

Fan Frenzy

Turkey's fans turned up in huge numbers at the Westfalenstadion, creating long tailbacks on the roads hours before the 6:00 pm (1600 GMT) kick-off. Their passionate support was evident as they led chants from atop cars and created a vibrant atmosphere.

However, the mood shifted once the match began. Portugal's superiority was evident, with Silva confidently smashing in Nuno Mendes's deflected low cross to open the scoring. Akaydin's own goal further dampened the Turkish spirits. The Portuguese dominance continued as Fernandes capitalized on a perfect pass from Ronaldo, quieting the partisan crowd.

Pitch Invaders

The game was briefly interrupted by several pitch invaders. A young fan managed to grab a photo with Ronaldo before being escorted away. This was followed by attempts from five larger fans seeking selfies, who were ultimately refused and removed by security.

The Portuguese fans celebrated their team’s progress to the last 16, a stark contrast to the disappointed Turkish supporters who will now anxiously await their decisive match against the Czech Republic.