As far as the bookies are concerned, Czechia come into the tournament as slight outsiders in Group F, where Türkiye are marginally favoured to join Portugal in the top two positions. However, with just one defeat in their last 14 matches and several players emerging from successful seasons, the 1976 champions should not be underestimated.

The talking is over. Tomorrow Portugal and Czechia will be the final two nations to kick off their Euro 2024 campaign in Germany.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Seleção coach Roberto Martínez said he is looking forward to a great spectacle. “Czechia always play to win. I think it will be a fantastic match for the neutral,” he said. 

Portugal gained some confidence for Euro 2024 after recording a convincing 3-0 victory against Republic of Ireland at Estádio Municipal de Aveiro.

João Félix was denied by Caoimhín Kelleher early on before getting another opportunity in the 18th minute, this time finding the net after his shot took a deflection past the goalkeeper.

Roberto Martínez made five substitutions at half time and five minutes later his side doubled their advantage. Rúben Neves picked out Cristiano Ronaldo, the 39-year-old stepping inside Liam Scales and sending a left-footed shot into the top corner.

Ronaldo found the net again ten minutes later, Diogo Jota doing well to get past two opponents and picked out Ronaldo who swept the ball past Kelleher.

Portugal closed out the game with confidence, the Seleção enjoying a solid runout with players gaining confidence before their European Championship campaign begins against Czech Republic.

Roberto Martínez is definitively a cup-half-full kind of guy.

“The match against Croatia was perfect from the point of view of our preparation for Euro 2024,” the Seleção coach said today, ahead of Portugal’s final friendly before the tournament against the Republic of Ireland in Aveiro tomorrow.

A disappointing performance and a 2-1 defeat may not sound like ideal preparation but the Spaniard insisted: “today we are a better prepared team than before the Croatia match.”