A trio of international friendlies provided plenty of drama and talking points as teams fine-tune their strategies ahead of Euro 2024. Portugal managed to hold on despite a late scare and emerged 4-2 victorious against Finland, the Republic of Ireland clinched a morale-boosting victory over Hungary, and Italy settled for a frustrating draw with Turkey.
Portugal Overcomes Late Scare in Eight-Goal Thriller
The Portugal, getting ready for Euro 2024 without their influential leader Cristiano Ronaldo, held off a late push from Finland to clinch a 4-2 win in Lisbon. The match, while ultimately ending in a comfortable win for the hosts, exposed some defensive frailties that manager Roberto Martinez will be keen to address before the tournament commences.
Portugal dominated the early exchanges, with Ruben Dias heading home from a corner in the 17th minute. Diogo Jota doubled the lead from the penalty spot just before halftime, seemingly putting the game beyond Finland’s reach.
However, the introduction of Bruno Fernandes at halftime sparked the game into life. The Manchester United midfielder scored a stunning curling effort in the 55th minute to make it 3-0, but Finland responded with two quickfire goals from Teemu Pukki, capitalizing on some lax Portuguese defending. Just as the momentum seemed to be shifting, Fernandes took charge, netting his second of the night with a close-range finish to seal the victory.
Portugal will face Croatia and the Republic of Ireland in their final warm-up games before their Euro 2024 opener against the Czech Republic on June 18th.
Parrott’s Late Strike Secures Victory for Ireland
The Republic of Ireland earned a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Euro 2024-bound Hungary, with substitute Troy Parrott scoring a dramatic stoppage-time winner. The Tottenham Hotspur striker, on loan at Dutch club Excelsior last season, capped off a fine individual performance with a composed finish to send the home crowd into raptures.
Adam Idah had given Ireland the lead with a powerful header in the first half, but Hungary, unbeaten in their previous 14 matches, drew level through Adam Lang just before the break. John O’Shea, currently in caretaker charge of the national team, will be pleased with his team’s resilience and will hope this victory strengthens his case for the permanent manager position.
Hungary, meanwhile, will be looking for an improved performance in their final warm-up game against Israel on Saturday as they prepare for their Euro 2024 campaign.
Italy Held to Goalless Draw in Uninspiring Performance
Reigning European champions Italy played out a disappointing 0-0 draw with Turkey in a match that did little to inspire confidence ahead of Euro 2024. Both sides struggled to create clear-cut chances in a game devoid of any real quality.
The first half ended goalless, with neither side registering a shot on target. The second half offered little improvement, with both teams lacking precision in the final third. The main talking point of the match was a potentially serious knee injury suffered by Turkey defender Ozan Kabak in the first half.
Italy face Bosnia and Herzegovina in their final warm-up game on Sunday, while Turkey will be hoping for a more positive result against Poland on Monday.
These international friendlies have provided a valuable opportunity for teams to assess their strengths and weaknesses ahead of the upcoming European Championships. While some teams will celebrate their performances, others must quickly address their shortcomings to challenge for glory this summer.
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