Portugal secured a spot in the Euro 2024 knockout stage as Group F winners following a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Turkey on Saturday.
Bernardo Silva opened the scoring in the 21st minute with a clinical finish, capitalizing on Nuno Mendes's deflected cross. Shortly after, Turkey's Samet Akaydin added to Portugal's lead with an unfortunate own goal, attempting to intercept a pass that ended up in his own net despite efforts from Zeki Celik and goalkeeper Altay Bayindir.
Bruno Fernandes sealed the victory for Portugal in the second half, slotting home a pass from Cristiano Ronaldo in the 56th minute. Ronaldo, ever the playmaker, set up Fernandes after outmaneuvering Turkey's defense.
Portugal, managed by Martinez, now stands atop Group F with a perfect six points from two matches. They will face one of the best third-placed teams in the next round, heading into their final group match against Georgia without pressure for a result.
In contrast, Turkey faces a crucial match against the Czech Republic, needing a draw to secure second place in the group.
Despite playing in front of passionate Turkish supporters at Dortmund's Westfalenstadion, Portugal's superior quality was evident throughout the match. The partisan crowd initially greeted Portugal with whistles and jeers but was eventually subdued by the visitors' dominance on the field.
The match saw a brief interruption in the second half when a young fan ran onto the pitch, managing to take a photo with Ronaldo before being escorted away by security.
With Portugal's convincing performance, they have shown their credentials as contenders for their second European Championship title, having previously won in 2016.
