The vibrant streets of Dortmund have been painted in red and white as Turkish supporters gear up for the highly anticipated EURO 2024 E Group second match between Turkey and Portugal. The excitement is palpable as fans from all over Europe converge to support their national team in this crucial encounter.
Set to take place at the renowned Signal Iduna Park, also known as Westfalen Stadium, the match kicks off at 19:00 Turkish Standard Time. The stadium, with a capacity of 80,000, is expected to be a sea of red and white, with an estimated 50,000 Turkish fans filling the stands. The fervour of the Turkish supporters was already evident during their previous match against Georgia, where tens of thousands of fans created a breathtaking atmosphere.
🇹🇷 1-2-3! TÜRKİYE! ❤️🤍 #BizimÇocuklar #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/Dn47H9G1zG
— Türkiye #BizimÇocuklar 🇹🇷 (@MilliTakimlar) June 22, 2024
Throughout the day, Turkish fans have gathered in designated areas around Dortmund, their chants and cheers echoing through the streets as they count down to the match. The city has seen an influx of supporters, not only from within Germany but also from neighbouring regions, all united in their passion for the Turkish national team.
Portugal’s forward, Diogo Jota, has acknowledged the challenge posed by Turkey, noting that his team anticipates a completely different game compared to their narrow victory over the Czech Republic. “Turkey have better players [than the Czech Republic] and they will want a different kind of match,” said Jota. He believes that if Portugal can impose their game plan as they did previously, they stand a good chance of securing a win, which would guarantee their progression to the knockout stages.
Dortmund pintado com as cores de Portugal! 🗣️🇵🇹 #PartilhaAPaixão | #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/2M0SvqLX1U
— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) June 22, 2024
For Turkey, the dream is very much alive. Head coach Vincenzo Montella has expressed his team’s ambition to reach the knockout rounds, a feat they haven’t achieved in the past three European Championships. “Our first target was to win the [opening] match. Now we’ve won it, the dream is to win the next one and reach the knockout stage,” Montella stated confidently. Turkey’s 3-1 victory over Georgia has set a positive tone, and they aim to continue this momentum against Portugal.
The historical context adds an extra layer of excitement to this fixture. Portugal boasts an impressive record against Turkey, having won seven out of their nine encounters. However, Turkey’s resilience and the passionate backing of their fans could make this match a thrilling contest. Notably, Turkish midfielder Hakan Çalhanoğlu had an outstanding performance in the previous match, completing 88 out of 95 passes—the highest number by a Turkish player in European Championship history.
The Turkish team, inspired by young talents like Kenan Yildiz, who has recently made a name for himself in Serie A, is poised to give their all. Yildiz, who signed with Juventus from Bayern Munich in 2022, has already shown glimpses of his potential, drawing comparisons to legends such as Alessandro Del Piero. His inclusion in the squad adds a dynamic edge to Turkey’s offensive capabilities.
Young star 🌟#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/47BcB4hfKf
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) June 21, 2024
In conclusion, the Turkey-Portugal match promises to be a spectacle of passion, skill, and strategic prowess. As both teams aim to maintain their winning streak in Group F, fans worldwide will be eagerly watching to see who comes out on top in this pivotal EURO 2024 encounter.
