Team Georgia celebrate their victory after the UEFA Euro 2024 Group F match between Portugal and Georgia in Gelsenkirchen, Germany on June 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)
BERLIN, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Türkiye advanced as Group F runner-up into the last 16 after goals from Hakan Calhanoglu and Cenk Tosun eliminated ten-men Czech Republic 2-1 while third-placed Georgia also progressed after beating leader Portugal 2-0 in the last round of group play on Wednesday.
The Czech Republic needed a victory to reach the next round, but Antonin Barak's dismissal for repeated foul play handed the Turks a numerical advantage with only 20 minutes into the encounter.
Türkiye assumed control and created a presentable opportunity in the 27th minute when Arda Guler's sideways scissor kick got blocked in the last nick of time by Ladislav Krejci.
The Czechs almost stunned Türkiye before halftime, but David Jurasek couldn't finish the job with only goalkeeper Mert Gunok to beat.
After the restart, Türkiye piled on the pressure and came close in the opening stages of the second half as Baris Yilmaz's header forced goalkeeper Jindrich Stanek into action.
Stanek was hapless though moments later as Calhanoglu benefitted on a rebound and slotted home the opener from the edge of the box into the far post bottom corner.
Türkiye's lead didn't last long as outnumbered Czechs answered against the flow of the match after Türkiye couldn't clear the ball from their area following a throw-in, allowing Tomas Soucek to level the scores in the 66th minute.
Vincenzo Montella's men put their progression beyond doubt in the added time as substitute Cenk Tosun finished off a solo run to make it 2-1 on the scoreboards.
In the other Group F match, Euro debutant Georgia secured its spot for the last 16 after edging uninspired group leader Portugal 2-0 on the goals from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Georges Mikautadze.
"It's a defeat. We started with low intensity, we conceded early and that's what Georgia needed. We weren't clear-headed enough with the last pass and in front of the goal, and their goalkeeper staged an amazing performance. We tried to score but couldn't, and that made Georgia believe more. They deserved to win," said Portugal coach Roberto Martinez.
With the results, Portugal completed the group stage atop the standings, followed by Türkiye (both six points), Georgia (4 points) and the Czech Republic (1 point). ■
Georges Mikautadze (L) of Georgia celebrates scoring a penalty with teammate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group F match between Portugal and Georgia in Gelsenkirchen, Germany on June 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Bai Xuefei)
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (C) of Georgia shoots to score during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group F match between Portugal and Georgia in Gelsenkirchen, Germany on June 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Bai Xuefei)
Goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili (1st L) of Georgia makes a save during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group F match between Portugal and Georgia in Gelsenkirchen, Germany on June 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Bai Xuefei)
Cristiano Ronaldo (R) of Portugal vies with Luka Lochoshvili of Georgia during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group F match between Portugal and Georgia in Gelsenkirchen, Germany on June 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Bai Xuefei)
Cristiano Ronaldo (L) of Portugal shoots the ball during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group F match between Portugal and Georgia in Gelsenkirchen, Germany on June 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Bai Xuefei)
Cristiano Ronaldo (R) of Portugal vies with Otari Kiteishvili of Georgia during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group F match between Portugal and Georgia in Gelsenkirchen, Germany on June 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Bai Xuefei)
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (C) of Georgia scores a goal during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group F match between Portugal and Georgia in Gelsenkirchen, Germany on June 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Bai Xuefei)
Cristiano Ronaldo (C) of Portugal shoots the ball during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group F match between Portugal and Georgia in Gelsenkirchen, Germany on June 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)
Cristiano Ronaldo (R) of Portugal competes during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group F match between Portugal and Georgia in Gelsenkirchen, Germany on June 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)
Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal reacts during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group F match between Portugal and Georgia in Gelsenkirchen, Germany on June 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Bai Xuefei)
Francisco Conceicao (L) of Portugal vies with Giorgi Kochorashvili of Georgia during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group F match between Portugal and Georgia in Gelsenkirchen, Germany on June 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)
Giorgi Mamardashvili (3rd R), goal keeper of Georgia, saves the ball during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group F match between Portugal and Georgia in Gelsenkirchen, Germany on June 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)
Goncalo Inacio (front R) of Portugal vies with Giorgi Chakvetadze of Georgia during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group F match between Portugal and Georgia in Gelsenkirchen, Germany on June 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)
Vladimir Coufal (L) of the Czech Republic passes the ball during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group F match between the Czech Republic and Türkiye in Hamburg, Germany, June 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)
Hakan Calhanoglu (L) of Türkiye celebrates scoring with his teammate during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group F match between the Czech Republic and Türkiye in Hamburg, Germany, June 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)
Cenk Tosun (Front) of Türkiye celebrates scoring with his teammates during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group F match between the Czech Republic and Türkiye in Hamburg, Germany, June 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)
Tomas Chory (Top) of the Czech Republic falls down during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group F match between the Czech Republic and Türkiye in Hamburg, Germany, June 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)
Okay Yokuslu (R) of Türkiye vies with Tomas Soucek of the Czech Republic during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group F match between the Czech Republic and Türkiye in Hamburg, Germany, June 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)
Ivan Hasek (Rear), head coach of the Czech Republic, is seen during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group F match between the Czech Republic and Türkiye in Hamburg, Germany, June 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)
Kenan Yildiz (L) of Türkiye vies with Vladimir Coufal (C) of the Czech Republic during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group F match between the Czech Republic and Türkiye in Hamburg, Germany, June 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)
Hakan Calhanoglu (L) of Türkiye breaks through during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group F match between the Czech Republic and Türkiye in Hamburg, Germany, June 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)
Antonin Barak (Front) is given a red card during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group F match between the Czech Republic and Türkiye in Hamburg, Germany, June 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)
Tomas Chory (1st L) of the Czech Republic clashes with players of Türkiye during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group F match between the Czech Republic and Türkiye in Hamburg, Germany, June 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)
Members of team Türkiye acknowledge spectators after the UEFA Euro 2024 Group F match between the Czech Republic and Türkiye in Hamburg, Germany, June 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)
Hakan Calhanoglu (R) of Türkiye shoots to score during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group F match between Türkiye and the Czech Republic in Hamburg, Germany, June 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei)
Samet Akaydin (R) of Türkiye vies with Tomas Chory of the Czech Republic during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group F match between Türkiye and the Czech Republic in Hamburg, Germany, June 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei)
Kenan Yildiz (C) of Türkiye vies for the ball during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group F match between Türkiye and the Czech Republic in Hamburg, Germany, June 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei)
Ferdi Erenay Kadioglu (R) of Türkiye vies with Antonin Barak of the Czech Republic during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group F match between Türkiye and the Czech Republic in Hamburg, Germany, June 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei)
Kenan Yildiz (bottom) of Türkiye vies with Tomas Holes of the Czech Republic during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group F match between Türkiye and the Czech Republic in Hamburg, Germany, June 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei)
Okay Yokuslu (R) of Türkiye vies with Tomas Chory of the Czech Republic during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group F match between Türkiye and the Czech Republic in Hamburg, Germany, June 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei)
Mert Muldur (bottom) of Türkiye vies with Tomas Soucek of the Czech Republic during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group F match between Türkiye and the Czech Republic in Hamburg, Germany, June 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei)
Arda Guler (front) of Türkiye shoots the ball during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group F match between Türkiye and the Czech Republic in Hamburg, Germany, June 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei)
Cenk Tosun (3rd L) of Türkiye shoots to score during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group F match between Türkiye and the Czech Republic in Hamburg, Germany, June 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei)
Orkun Kokcu (2nd R) of Türkiye comes on as a substitute to replace Hakan Calhanoglu (1st R) during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group F match between Türkiye and the Czech Republic in Hamburg, Germany, June 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei)
