Portugal are clearly and obviously the favourites in Group F but a routine route to the knock-outs feels unlikely given the quality of the opposition they must face.
The Czechs will be Czech, making themselves hard to beat, while Turkey ‘s unpredictable nature makes them dangerous. On their day, they have the makings of a superb international side.
The football mad nation of Georgia meanwhile are the big unknowns, ignited as they by patriotic pride and one of the best wingers in Europe.
Still, the Selecao are superior in almost every department to their rivals here. Moreover, they are still in possession of an ageless great.
Portugal
The Selecao are in a very good place right now, revived under Roberto Martinez and still on a high from completing a peerless qualifying campaign. There are no significant injury concerns to speak of and confidence is rife across the squad.
Optimists will view all this and insist their 8/1 price to win this summer in the Euro odds is on the generous side. Doom and gloom merchants suspect it is a calm before the storm.
That’s because, before we get to the substantial positives, it’s worth noting there have been storms in recent times.
Exiting Euro 2020 at the first knock-out stage had many clamouring for an overhaul. Though this is hardly an old squad, it’s a group that have been together for a good while and maybe it was time for fresh blood?
Losing to Morocco in Qatar however had the players largely excused, the heat switching to Fernando Santos who walked after eight years at the helm.
In his place came Martinez, a divisive choice but one who has quickly proven his doubters wrong, and then some.
Finding fault with the Belgian across his 17-month tenure to date is like seeking out the proverbial needle in a haystack. Portugal won all ten of their qualifying games, nine of them to nil, and several of them to convincing scorelines.
Granted, it was not the most difficult of groups to emerge from but the winners of this tournament in 2016 really couldn’t have done any more.
Additionally, there has been a silencing of the long-running debate about Ronaldo’s age and whether the old man still has it in him to boss proceedings at the highest level.
It’s a discussion that may well have piqued when CR7 moved to Saudi Arabia but ten goals in qualifying firmly shushed the cynics. No-one else in qualifying came close to that number.
Incidentally, the second highest goal-scorer across every group was Bruno Fernandes, with six.
At the back, those clean sheets tell a persuasive tale while in midfield Palhinha, Ruben Neves, and his much-coveted younger namesake Joao Neves provide genuine quality.
Up front, there are goals and options, in the form of Rafael Leao, Diogo Jota and Joao Felix. Plus of course the ageless great himself.
The Selecao are real contenders in Germany and Group F is just the start of it.
Star Man
It has to be CR7, even if Bernardo Silva and Fernandes run him closer than ever before.
In what is sure to be his final tournament, the 39-year-old still has the stature and the moments to inspire his country.
Who is Portugal’s Manager?
Martinez will forever be damned for not fulfilling the enormous potential of Belgium’s ‘Golden Generation’. Free from the pressure of that, we’re seeing a man reclaim his reputation.
Let’s refrain from getting too carried away though until Portugal encounter an opponent of real note.
Turkey
Making sense of this Turkish squad is like trying to hold a conversation with a drunk.
One minute they’re lucid, moreover entertaining company. The next they descend into incomprehensible rambling, spouting ludicrous conspiracy theories and telling you about their tough upbringing. They’re all over the place.
Take two friendlies, in the space of five months, as a case in point.
Last November, Vincenzo Montella’s blend of exciting youth and established fare went to Berlin and out-manoeuvred Germany three goals to two. It was a glimpse into who Turkey could be.
Then in March they were thoroughly thumped 6-1 in Austria, as poor as the scoreline suggests. These same extremities exist when we widen the lens.
After being talked up ahead of the last Euros, the Crescent-Stars hugely disappointed, failing to lay a glove on Italy, Wales and Switzerland and exiting promptly.
Impressive victories over Holland and Norway in their World Cup qualifying campaign followed that, luring believers into believing again. They were sensationally good against the Dutch, truly.
But then high-scoring draws against Latvia and Montenegro served as a timely reminder that this is a team who is its own worst enemy. Such results ultimately cost them a spot in Qatar.
A series of vibrant displays in their Euro qualifying saw them top their group, overcoming Croatia and Wales along the way, but frankly we’ve been here before and we know now not to be overly seduced by the deep-lying scheming of Hakan Calhanoglu, or too enamoured by the teenage promise of Juventus forward Kenan Yildiz.
Turkey are equally as capable of finishing top or bottom of Group F this summer.
Star Man
Having played a pivotal part in Inter securing a 20th Scudetto, Hakan Calhanoglu takes his box of tricks to Germany, the midfield playmaker crucial to his national team’s hopes.
A stand-out campaign at club level brought some standout stats, namely 13 goals scored and 1.7 key passes per 90.
Who is Turkey’s Manager?
Montella’s stock in Turkey is low, with many blaming the team’s failings and unpredictable nature squarely at the dug-out.
Nicknamed the ‘Little Airplane’ as a player, he might well be grounded if the Crescent-Stars flatter to deceive again.
Georgia
Qualifying via a successful Nations League campaign, the Crusaders are set to capture hearts and the imagination in what is their first ever major tournament outing.
How they fared in the Nations League is of course relevant, but of far more interest is how they coped in an extremely tough Euro qualifying group.
Spain spanked them twice-over but Scotland and Norway were both held at home, each side struggling to deal with Georgia’s blend of energetic passion and neat, technical build-up play.
Unquestionably, they go into the tournament as underdogs but it’s worth noting that Willy Sagnol’s men have only failed to score twice in their last 12 internationals and furthermore this is not the one-man team many are portraying them as, even if winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is a level above his peers.
Watford’s Giorgi Chakvetadze is a clever and skilful attacking midfielder while their veteran captain Guram Kashia takes no prisoners at the back.
A victory, a moment, may be enough to satisfy this patriotic nation. From there they can build.
Star Man
With feet that twist and turn like his name, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is one of the most exhilarating and brilliant wide-man in world football.
His devastating forays down the left last season went a long way to securing Napoli a famous Scudetto and if the 23-year-old turns it on in Germany then frankly anything is possible.
Who is Georgia’s Manager?
A World Cup finalist with France, Will Sagnol has been a revelation at international management after disappointing at Bordeaux.
Forging a hard-working collective, and trusting in their individual abilities, the former full-back need never buy a glass of chacha – a popular Georgian brandy – again.
Czech Republic
Long gone are the days of 1996, when a technically adroit, audacious Czech creation, illuminated by the likes of Pavel Nedved and Patrik Berger, reached the final against all expectation.
Now a functional, pragmatic side head to the Euros, one devoid of ballers; a team that hopes to take advantage of set pieces and situations that fall their way.
Not that this team is short of quality, even if they are unfancied in the football betting to reach the knock-out stages.
The West Ham pair of Vladimir Coufal and Tomas Soucek add some Premier League pedigree while the versatile Antonin Barak ended his season on a high at Fiorentina with four goal involvements in three.
Up front, the long-awaited return of Patrik Schick is a significant plus, the tall forward previous bagging 18 for his country.
But the point stands that this is a predictable outfit, one whose Plan B is remarkably similar to Plan A. Third spot is realistically the best they can hope for.
Star Man
Tomas Soucek’s threat at set-pieces is evidenced by three goals scored in qualifying, despite the Hammer sitting in front of the Czech defence.
The 29-year-old is only rivalled by Schick as the most important player in a well-organised set-up.
Who is Czech Republic’s Manager?
Mere moments after guiding the Czechs to an eighth consecutive Euros, Jaroslav Silhavy resigned, tired of the constant criticism that accompanied his unadventurous ways.
The style and approach hasn’t changed dramatically under new boss Ivan Hasek but the results have been encouraging, with two friendlies won this year.
Key Matches In Group F
Turkey v Portugal feels pivotal but the most intriguing clash occurs four days earlier when the Crascent-Stars take on Georgia.
If the latter pull off a surprise on their major tournament debut that opens up the group beautifully.
Euro 2024 Group F Fixtures
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18th June, 5pm – Turkey v Georgia
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18th June, 8pm – Portugal v Czech Republic
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22nd June, 2pm – Georgia v Czech Republic
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22nd June, 5pm – Turkey v Portugal
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26th June, 8pm – Georgia v Portugal
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26th June, 8pm – Czech Republic v Turkey
*Credit for the main photo belongs to Alamy*
