“Why not? We have already won one. We are fortunate to be able to play with four generations,” says Roberto Martínez when asked about Portugal’s chances, one of the big favorites, in the Euro Cup. The Catalan coach, who took the baton of … Fernando Santos in the Portuguese team, at the beginning of last year, changed a power like Belgium for another that boasts a next golden generation. The Seleção, led by the veteran Cristiano Ronaldo, 39 years old, and Pepe, 41, for the German event, offers the coach a group with possibilities for everything after winning the 2016 edition in Paris. The one from Madeira remains the great stiletto of the Portuguese block, being the top scorer in the history of his country with 130 goals, and after ten goals in an impeccable qualifying phase, in which Portugal achieved full victories with 10, he was the highest scoring team with 36 and only received 2 goals.
The two former Real Madrid players, one at Al-Nassr Saudi and the other at Porto, will have the last opportunity, due to the age of both, to play their last competition together. “They are reference players who need those who arrive to have the levels of self-demand to be able to be on a daily basis,” said the former Belgian coach, who arrives at the event with several very important names over thirty such as Bernardo Silva (Manchester City ), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) or Joao Cancelo (Barcelona), while one step below has figures of the stature of Joao Félix (Barcelona), Rafael Leao (Milan), Vitinha (PSG), Rúben Dias (Manchester City ), or Rúben Neves (Al-Hilal). From a little further down comes another batch of individual talent with Gonçalo Ramos, PSG striker who already scored a hat trick in the World Cup in Qatar, and Benfica’s young centre-back António Silva, in the sights of several European giants.
The majority of Portuguese players play in the main European leagues, where they have a very high accumulated minutes played, because they compete in the national championships and also in the different UEFA European commitments. “You breathe fresh, positive air, and that is the most important thing,” said Cristiano, delighted with the coach born in the province of Lleida.
As he did in his time in Belgium, Martínez opts for three centre-backs in a fairly flexible eleven, something that has little to do with that of his predecessor; with two long wingers who can allow themselves more offensive license, two midfielders, two midfielders who play inside and a spearhead. All this bringing together the players and talent of Portugal, which seemed complicated at first. Joao Félix, Cristiano, Silva and Fernandes at the same time, from the start and with success, with possession of the ball and a lot of presence in the area.
Arda Güler scores a goal against Poland.
Wojtek Radwanski / AFP
Türkiye: Güler’s passion
Very little is enough for Arda Güler to leave a trace. And proof of this has been his spectacular scoring efficiency with Real Madrid in the final stretch of the season. Six shots on target and six goals. Not a single goalkeeper made a save. In the Ottoman team led by the Italian Vincenzo Montella, they rub their hands seeing his new star, capable of overcoming various injuries and who, wrapped in a media aura, generates an overflowing illusion. At 19 years old he will lead a country that puts its hopes in the boots of the Turkish Messi. His other passion.
Patrik Schick celebrates a goal in the last Euro Cup.
REUTERS
Schick, Xabi Alonso’s hero who scores in the Czech Republic
Patrik Schick demonstrated at the Euro Cup held four years ago that he is a born finisher. The Czech striker, one of the great dangers of the team led by Ivan Hasek and captained by veteran Tomás Soucek, was the top scorer in the continental event. His good season at Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen, scoring 13 goals, some of them decisive, five in the Europa League, give him the necessary credit to aspire to at least pass the group stage in the tournament. It will be the eighth consecutive participation of the Czech Republic, runner-up in ’96 and semi-finalist in 2004, passing the first phase in two of the last three editions, in which they fell in the quarterfinals.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia celebrates Georgia’s qualification for the European Championship in Germany.
REUTERS
The magician’s debutante Kvaratskhelia
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Javicha Cuaratsjelia so that one can pronounce it normally) is the great star of the group led by former French international Willy Sagnol, who did not waste the opportunity that the play-offs gave him. The Napoli winger – 11 goals and 6 assists this year in Serie A – is Georgia’s third top scorer in just four years since his debut, with 15 goals in 26 duels with the senior team. The team is a priori one of the great unknowns of the tournament, despite facing Spain in the qualifying phase. However, it has important figures from high-level leagues such as Valencia goalkeeper Mamardashvili, one of the goalkeepers with the greatest projection in European football.
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