Portugal Battles To 4-2 Victory In Hard-Fought Friendly Against Finland
Source: Portugal Football Twitter
Roberto Martinez’s Portugal showed their strength in a 2024 European Championship friendly by scoring four goals against Finland. This match was part of their preparation for the upcoming tournament in Germany, which is just over a week away.
Portugal took an early lead thanks to Manchester City star Ruben Dias. Dias outmuscled his opponent at the back post to get on the end of an inswinging corner kick from Vitinha. His header was driven into the ground before it found the roof of the net, giving Finland’s goalkeeper, Lukas Hradecky, no chance of making the save. This early goal set the tone for the rest of the match.
Martinez’s men doubled their lead just before halftime. Liverpool forward Diogo Jota scored coolly from the penalty spot. The penalty was awarded after 21-year-old Francisco Conceicao was shoved out of the way by Finland’s Anssi Suhonen. With Cristiano Ronaldo absent, having been rested after playing a full 120 minutes and a penalty shootout against Al Hilal last week, Jota stepped up and confidently tucked the ball home, making it 2-0.
Bruno Fernandes then secured the victory for Portugal with a sensational strike from outside the box. Conceicao created space well in the box before setting up the Manchester United star, who hit it first time into the back of the net. This goal demonstrated Fernandes’ exceptional skill and added to Portugal’s growing lead.
Finland did manage to pull one back through Teemu Pukki, the current Minnesota United forward. Pukki chipped the ball delightfully over Jose Sa to score. He then halved Portugal’s two-goal lead with another clever finish just five minutes later, sliding the ball under Sa. This brief comeback from Finland added some excitement to the match, but Portugal remained composed.
Despite Finland’s late surge, Portugal restored their two-goal lead when Fernandes bagged his brace with a tidy finish into the bottom corner. This final goal ensured a comfortable win for Portugal and highlighted their attacking prowess.
Cristiano Ronaldo, who has hinted at his desire to lead Portugal at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, was rested for this match. As he turns 41 before that tournament kicks off, his chances of making it remain uncertain. However, Euro 2024 is certain to be his last showing at a European Championship, as he would be 43 by the time of the 2028 tournament.
Roberto Martinez’s team is considered the fifth favorite to lift the Euro 2024 trophy after they stormed through the qualifiers with a 100% win record. Their strong performance against Finland suggests they are in good shape for the tournament.
Portugal is in Group F for Euro 2024, where they will face Turkey, Czechia, and Georgia. Their first match will be held in Leipzig at the Red Bull Arena on June 18. This game will be an important test for Martinez’s men, as they aim to start the tournament on a high note and build momentum for the rest of the competition.
As the European Championship approaches, Portugal’s fans will be eager to see if their team can replicate their friendly success on the bigger stage. With experienced players like Ronaldo and rising stars like Conceicao, Portugal has a strong squad capable of making a deep run in the tournament. The upcoming matches will be crucial in determining if they can live up to their potential and bring home the trophy.
