Portugal have secured their place in the last 16 of Euro 2024 after an impressive 3-0 win over Turkey in Dortmund on Saturday.
Manchester City's Bernardo Silva opened the scoring in the 21st minute, beating goalkeeper Altay Bayindir after Nuno Mendes' cross. Silva was declared the best player in the match, due to the goal and the contribution he made throughout the match, both in the offensive and defensive phases.
"I am very happy with the full points and that we became the third team to advance further. We are one step closer to our goal of winning this race, but this is only the first step. We feel that we are in the right place. We are on the right track. We have one more match until the end of this phase and we are ready for the knockout phase", declared Silva.
An own goal doubled Portugal's lead when defender Samet Akaydin failed to follow through and sent the ball into the wrong net seven minutes later.
Turkey had great support from the fans even before the start of the match, but their euphoria stopped immediately, as Portugal showed strength from the beginning to the end of the match.
Cristiano Ronaldo did not score, but assisted Bruno Fernandes in the 56th minute. Ronaldo became the best assister of the European Championships, with eight in total.
He was the target of fans who tried to approach Ronaldo several times to take pictures and keep his memory for the rest of his life. Only one child achieved such a thing.
The 2016 European champions will play in Group F against Georgia on Wednesday in the final match of the group stage.
"I think we played at the same level as in the match against the Czech Republic, but this time we scored first. "Turkey started the match well, but we were careful and when we scored, we controlled the whole match", said the coach of Portugal, Roberto Martinez, after the match.
Turkey, on the other hand, a representative that still dreams of further advancement, will play against the Czech Republic in Hamburg.
The first Portugal has six points, followed by Turkey that has three, and the Czech Republic and Georgia that have one point each.
Advancement to the knockout stage for Turkey would be the first in history. Such a thing is still possible, and this is only thanks to the victory over Georgia in the first match.
Two new records were broken by Ronaldo and Pepe
Photo: Associated Press
In the Turkey-Portugal match, which the Portuguese won 3:0 and ensured advancement to the knockout stage, two new records were broken.
Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the best strikers in the history of football, did not score but recorded an assist in the deep victory.
In the 56th minute, Ronaldo assisted Bruno Fernandes, who made it 3:0.
With this assist, Ronaldo tops the list of best assists in the European Championships, with eight in total.
He is also the best scorer in Europe with 14 goals in total.
The other record to be broken on Saturday was by Portugal centre-back Pepe.
Pepe continued the record as the oldest player to appear in the final European tournament, at 41 years and 117 days.
Scored a goal and received the epithet of the best player in the match
UEFA has selected Bernardo Silva as the best player of the match in which Portugal won 3:0 against Turkey.
"He scored the decisive first goal, never lost the ball and had a big impact on Portugal's control of the game. Worked hard offensively and defensively until the end of the match. He had the best statistics of all the players present and had three decisive passes", wrote UEFA in the justification for choosing Silva as the best of the match.
Impressive Portugal secure the knockout stage
Portugal has secured passage to the knockout stage of the European Championship. On Saturday night, they defeated Turkey with a deep score of 3:0.
In the 21st minute, Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva made it 1:0. For Silva, this was the first goal scored in a European competition.
Samet Akaydin scored an own goal in the 28th minute.
Bruno Fernandes scored the last goal of the match for Portugal with an assist from Cristiano Ronaldo in the 55th minute.
In the first match, Portugal beat the Czech Republic, while Turkey beat Georgia.
With the victory, Portugal keeps the first place with six points, while Turkey is in the second position with three points.
The lucky fan who was photographed with Ronaldo
A child ran onto the field and took pictures with Cristiano Ronaldo during the second half of the European Championship match between Turkey and Portugal.
Ronaldo looked happy for this photo, which had escaped security in the 69th minute
"Westfalenstadion", before taking out the phone for a "selfie".
The young fan then left, while being applauded by those present.
Unstoppable Portugal
Photo: Associated Press
Portugal is proving unstoppable against Turkey.
After a very well constructed action, Bruno Fernandes scored for 3:0.
He scored in the 56th minute with an assist from Cristiano Ronaldo.
Portugal shines in the first half
Photo: Associated Press
Portugal is heading for a very important win over Turkey. After the first half, the score is 2:0 in favor of the Portuguese.
Bernardo Silva gave Portugal the lead in the 21st minute, before one of the worst mistakes in "Euro 2024" happened. Defender Samet Akaydin scored an own goal, as he tried to return the ball to goalkeeper Bayindir.
In case of victory, Portugal secures the first place in the group.
Funny own goal by the Turks
Samet Akaydin scored a ridiculous own goal to give Portugal their second goal.
In an attempt to return the ball back to the goalkeeper, Akaydin did not see that it has come out of the gate and the ball intended for a pass ended up in the net.
Portugal now leads 28:2 from the 0th minute.
Portugal in the lead
Portugal has taken the lead over Turkey.
Bernardo Silva scored in the 22nd minute.
VIDEO:
1-0 Portugal.
– Football Report (@FootballReprt) June 22, 2024
BERNARDO SILVA HAS OPENED THE SCORE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!pic.twitter.com/6AjbKxhCCP
The match starts
Photo: Associated Press
The victory guarantees first place to both Turkey and Portugal.
Who are the two Portuguese who played against Turkey in 2008
The last time Turkey and Portugal met in the European Championship was in 2008.
Two footballers who played for the Portuguese that year will also play on Saturday, in the match that starts at 18:00.
Pepe, now 41, scored the first goal in the 2-0 win, and Cristiano Ronaldo, now 39, hit the post.
Goalkeeper Rui Patricio, 36, had been on the bench in the match played in Geneva.
Lineups: Turkey - Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo will lead Portugal's attack against Turkey, in the match which starts at 18:00.
Coach Roberto Martinez has made only one change from the victory over the Czech Republic. Midfielder Joao Palhinha will start instead of Diogo Dalot.
Meanwhile, the coach of Turkey, Vincenzo Montella, has surprised with the decision to leave Arda Guleri on the bench.
