Belgium manager Domenico Tedesco predicts his side will find form in the Euro 2024 knockout rounds, providing they recover from defeat in their opening match when they face Romania tonight (8pm, Live on RTÉ2/RTÉ Player).
The shock loss to Slovakia in Group E came in spite of Tedesco’s side enjoying the majority of possession and chances and means they face a challenge to reach the last 16.
Their next opponents gave one of the outstanding displays of the group stage so far when they comfortably dispatched Ukraine 3-0 and will assure their own passage should they spring an even greater upset and beat Belgium, who are ranked third in the world.
“We never think about losing,” said Tedesco. “We think about winning. We want to achieve something important here.
“If we pass the group stage, then I have a good feeling about us.
“Losing to Slovakia hasn’t changed something in our mind. The atmosphere in the squad is really good. Everybody is performing well and in a good mood.”
Belgium 0-1 Slovakia highlights
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Tedesco tipped Romelu Lukaku to add to the 85 goals he has scored for his country and help give his team lift-off in Germany, after he had an effort ruled out by VAR against Slovakia.
“We spoke yesterday alone after the training session,” said the manager. “We always speak because he is one of the main players. It is important what he is thinking.
“We have a really good exchange of information. We don’t just speak because of missed chances. He can do more of course, but we can’t expect six goals from six chances.”
Ukraine’s 2-1 victory over the Slovaks on Friday means all four teams in Group E would be on three points if Belgium were to win.
Romania boss Edward Iordanescu urged his team to make history by progressing beyond the group at a major tournament for the first time since Euro 2000.
“It would mean history,” he said. “It would be a fantastic example for what football and sport means in Romania.
“After the first game, the whole country was behind our team. It really helped our people. I can feel happiness and hope for all Romanians. That motivates us even more.”
Romania 3-0 Ukraine highlights
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Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez insists his side will head into their Group F clash with Turkey (5pm, Live on RTÉ2/RTÉ Player) full of confidence.
Both teams will be looking to take a big step towards qualifying for the knockout stages with victory at Borussia Dortmund’s Signal Iduna Park after winning their opening match.
Portugal were far from convincing after falling behind to the Czech Republic and needed Francisco Conceicao’s stoppage-time effort to ensure a winning start.
But Martinez told a press conference: “After the game against Czechia, we’re better, we’re more prepared. We know that even after going one goal down, we can turn the game around.
“Now we’re playing against Turkey, everyone needs to be ready, whether you’re in the starting XI or not.”
Martinez said he and his players were fully focused on the Turkey game and will only take stock after the group-stage matches have been completed.
The former Wigan, Everton and Belgium boss added: “This game is crucial for us to progress, to create competitiveness in the dressing room, to grow.
“We’ll give everything in the first three games and then analyse our performances.”
Portugal 2-1 Czechia
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Turkey were impressive in their opening 3-1 win against Georgia, who provided a stiff challenge, and forward Kerem Akturkoglu has his eyes on surpassing his nation’s team of 2008, who reached the Euro semi-finals.
Galatasaray winger Akturkoglu said: “There are many in this team who experienced the excitement of Euro 2008 in front of the TV as children.
“I came here dreaming of it. We want to surpass the semi-final achievement of Euro 2008 – and why not? As a country, we are hungry for success.”
European Championship newcomers Georgia are focused on their own performance and their priority is making the most of the experience at the tournament in Germany, coach Willy Sagnol says.
That Georgia expect a tough task against Czechia Republic in Hamburg (2pm, Live on RTÉ2/RTÉ Player) goes without saying, said the former France international, who has earned himself hero status in Georgia with their first-ever qualification for the Euros.
But the priorities lie long term. “We want to use this competition to get better to be able in the future to compete also with bigger nations in the long term,” Sagnol said.
Georgia had opportunities to make a winning start in their opening Group F clash against Turkey in Dortmund on Tuesday but ultimately went down 3-1, but for Sagnol it was a building block for his team, ranked 74th in the world.
“It was a match with a lot of emotions because it was Georgia’s first ever match at a major tournament,” he said.
“That’s maybe why the first 20-25 minutes were not so good, but I think the match will remain a good memory because the players showed a fantastic reaction and I think we did show something we can be proud of.”
Turkey 3-1 Georgia highlights
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For their second game at Euro 2024, Sagnol said they had done work on analysing the Czechs but ultimately “we are responsible for our own production”.
“It will be a different match, for sure, against a team with a different profile to that of Turkey. If you look back over the last 25-30 years, the Czech are always there at the top competitions so they have a lot of experience and, even if it is a different style, it will no easier than it was against Turkey.
“But we’re not that focused on the opponents because what is important to us is what we are able to produce.
“When we play with confidence and discipline, we have very good players who can ensure a fantastic team performance,” the coach added.
Czechia aim to shackle Georgia’s exciting winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia while unleashing their own attackers more than they could in their opening defeat.
Coach Ivan Hasek’s side were largely on the back foot in their first Group F game, where they lost 2-1 to Portugal, and want to express themselves more against unfancied Georgia who also lost their first match.
“We really do want to attack, get set pieces, and be dangerous,” Hasek said, declaring his entire side fit for the game in Hamburg.
“We didn’t attack that well in the first game, and that’s why we want to do it tomorrow. We want to show it.”
“We have to be really focussed and not let them counterattack, that is their biggest threat,” said Czech midfielder Antonin Barak added.
Georgia’s main talent is Napoli winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, whom fans nicknamed “Kvara-dona” in reference to late Argentine hero Diego Maradona.
“Yes he’s a big star,” said Barak, recalling his role in Napoli’s 2023 title-winning side. “On the other hand, in the national team, his role is a little different, he doesn’t have so much support from his team, he plays a little further down.
“We are getting ready for him, we are preparing ourselves. But we do not forget the other players, they have a lot of attacking force. So it is not only about Khvicha, but he is a superstar definitely.”
Czech forward Patrik Schick should be able to maraud more than he was able to against Portugal.
“Georgia knows and we know that we cannot lose. But it won’t be that wild of a game,” Hasek said. “Georgia have players who can attack but they won’t open the defence.”
Barak said the team were determined to impress.
“We want to introduce some different elements, we want to create our own playing style,” he said. “I hope that tomorrow we win and that we show the fans how we can attack but also be reliable and compact in the defence… We want them to feel joy about how we play and together we will be happy.”
Watch every game from Euro 2024 on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player as well as highlights and goals as they happen on RTÉ Sport digital platforms
