Hugo Almeida and the Portuguese national team made a perfect start to the 2008 European Championships with a convincing 2:0 win over Turkey. The Werder striker didn’t play a part on the night.
Hugo Almeida and the Portuguese national team made a perfect start to the 2008 European Championships with a convincing 2:0 win over Turkey. The Werder striker didn’t play a part on the night.
Hugo Almeida and the Portuguese national team made a perfect start to the 2008 European Championships with a convincing 2:0 win over Turkey. The Werder striker didn’t play a part on the night. The south-west European side were in complete control over the full 90 minutes with a wonderful blend of technically strong and extremely pacy football.
Central defender Pepe thought he had put his side in front in the first period with a powerful header but a close call for off-side put a sudden end to the celebrations. In the 61st minute Pepe was perfectly placed again to put the ball over the line – and this time it counted. 1:0 for Portugal thanks to a wonderful one-two with Nuno Gomes which tore the Turkish defence apart. The Portuguese must have thought for some time that their luck was out, as they struck the woodwork on a total of three occasions during the tie.
The decisive goal took its time in coming, but it was well deserved when it did. Substitute Raul Meireles had an easy job of slotting the ball into an empty goal after some clever work from Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Moutinho to make the final score 2:0.
Hugo Almeida was left out this time by trainer Felipe Scolari but he will have his next chance to make his EURO debut on Wednesday, 11.06.2008 in Geneva against the Czech Republic. The Czech’s won the opening game of the tournament 1:0 against co-hosts Switzerland.
