Portugal v Czech Republic: Euro 2024 – live

The first wave of group fixtures comes to an end here, and as of now there still hasn’t been a goalless game. Hopefully we can complete the set without a blemish, and the fact the lines are being led tonight by Cristiano Ronaldo and Patrik Schick augurs well: the pair were the joint top scorers last time round at Euro 2020. Ronaldo won the Golden Boot by dint of one extra assist.

Earlier today in Group F, this happened …

… in which Arda Güler of Turkey broke Cristiano Ronaldo’s 20-year-old record to become the youngest player to score on their Euro finals debut. The ‘Turkish Messi’ is 19 years and 114 days old; Ronaldo was a comparatively creaky 19 years and 128 days when he scored a late consolation against Greece in the opener of Euro 2004. It all means the group looks like this ahead of tonight’s game in Leipzig.

Both of these countries have identical records at the business end of the Euros. Portugal won the title in 2016 and were runners-up in 2004; the Czechs came second in 1996 and lifted the trophy (as Czechoslovakia) in 1976. The Portuguese have the upper hand in the head-to-head since the Czech Republic became a separate country, though. Karel Poborský’s famous scoop decided the Euro 96 quarter-final, but since then it’s been four wins in a row for Portugal, at Euro 2008, Euro 2012 and in the 2022-23 Nations League.

Cristiano Ronaldo (39) and Pepe (41) start for Portugal. Both break records tonight: Ronaldo will appear in his sixth European Championship finals, while Pepe, at 41 years and 113 days, becomes the oldest player in the 64-year history of the tournament. Pepe will beat the record held by Gabor Kiraly, who was 40 years and 86 days old when keeping goal for Hungary in their Euro 2016 last-16 defeat by Belgium. Manchester City are represented by Bernardo Silva and Rúben Dias, Manchester United by Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot.

West Ham midfielder Tomáš Souček captains the Czechs. Like City and United, the Hammers have two players starting tonight’s match: Vladimír Coufal lines up on the right-hand side of midfield.

Portugal: Costa, Dias, Pepe, Nuno Mendes, Dalot, Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, Joao Cancelo, Bernardo Silva, Ronaldo, Leao.
Subs: Rui Patricio, Nelson Semedo, Joao Palhinha, Goncalo Ramos, Joao Felix, Jose Sa, Danilo Pereira, Inacio, Joao Neves, Matheus Luiz, Ruben Neves, Jota, Silva, Pedro Neto, Francisco Conceicao.

Czech Republic: Stanek, Hranac, Krejci, Holes, Soucek, Coufal, Provod, Sulc, Doudera, Schick, Kuchta.
Subs: Zima, Vitik, Barak, Sevcik, Hlozek, Chytil, David Jurasek, Kovar, Cerny, Chory, Lingr, Cerv, Jaros, Vlcek, Matej Jurasek.

Referee: Marco Guida (Italy).

The opening wave of fixtures concludes as Portugal and the Czech Republic finally get a kick of the ball. Should be good. It gets underway at 8pm. It’s on.