Portugal welcome Finland to the Estadio Jose Alvalade this Tuesday for an international friendly. The hosts look to grab a win in their preparations for the European Championships whereas Finland aim for a big win as they look towards a summer without tournament football.
Date: 04/06/2024
Kick off time: 19:45
Location: Estadio Jose Alvalade
The first of the June international friendlies kicks off with Finland looking for a win to unsettle Portugal before they go for glory in the European Championships.
Portugal finished top of their group in the qualifying phase of the European Championships. In Group J, The Navigators took on Slovakia, Luxembourg, Iceland, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Liechtenstein. In ten games, Portugal picked up ten wins, going unbeaten and finishing eight points ahead of Slovakia.
The Navigators will be in Group F at the Euros where they take on Georgia, Turkey and the Czech Republic. Portugal have a good record at the European Championships and will be looking to avenge their Round of 16 exit last time out and return to their winning ways like back in 2016.
Finland finished third in Group H in Euro qualifying where they joined Denmark, Slovenia, Kazakhstan, Northern Ireland and San Marino. In ten games they picked up six wins and four losses, leaving them on 18 points and into the play-offs.
In the play-offs Finland took on Wales. Teemu Pukki did score but Wales handed Finland a 4 – 1 loss and a spot on the sidelines this summer. Finland have only ever made one appearance at the European Championships, going out at the Group stage in 2021.
Portugal and Finland have met ten times in their histories, with the first meeting coming back in the 1982 European Championships. Portugal have the better record in the fixture with five wins in comparison to Finland’s singular win, with the other four games ending in a draw.
The last five games in this fixture have seen two wins for Portugal, a win for Finland and two draws. This fixture also usually sees only one side on the scoresheet, with three of the last five games only seeing one side score.
Portugal Team News
Roberto Martinez has a strong side to call on with the likes of veteran Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Jota, Vitinha, Bernardo Silva and Ruben Dias all in his squad.
Finland Team News
Markku Kanerva will likely call on the side he relied on in the qualifiers but will still be missing Robert Taylor who has opted to stay with Inter Miami as the MLS season continues and Marcus Forss who is still injured.
In their last five games in all competitions, Portugal have four wins and one loss.
The trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina saw a busy first half for Portugal. Ronaldo bagged a penalty and a goal in the first 20 minutes and was joined on the scoresheet by Fernandes, Joao Cancelo and Joao Felix to give Portugal the 5 – 0 lead at halftime. Bosnia and Herzegovina failed to register a single shot on target as Portugal cruised to the 5 – 0 win.
Another away day for Portugal and another win, this time against Liechtenstein. After a goalless first half, Ronaldo found the back of the net in the first minute of the second half. Cancelo also put his name on the scoresheet again to wrap up a 2 – 0 win for Portugal.
Back at home, Portugal hosted Iceland. Fernandes opened the scoring in the first half and Ricardo Horta secured the 2 – 0 win in the second half as Iceland had just 26% of the possession.
Portugal were finally challenged at the other end of the pitch against Sweden. Rafael Leao, Matheus Nunes and Fernandes all scored to give Portugal the 3 – 0 lead at halftime and Bruma added another just before the hour mark. Viktor Gyokeres got Sweden on the scoresheet just a minute later but Goncalo Ramos restored the four goal cushion. Gustaf Nilsson did score in the last minute but Portugal held on for the 5 – 2 win.
The last time out for Portugal saw them handed a shock loss by Slovenia. Despite having 65% of the possession, Portugal had just two shots on target as Adam Gnezda Cerin and Timi Max Elsnik both scored in the 2 – 0 win for Slovenia.
Predictions
In their last five games in all competitions, Finland have three wins and two losses.
Taylor opened the scoring for Finland in the 28th minute to give Finland the lead over Kazakhstan at halftime. However, a late brace from Bakhtiyar Zaynutdinov gave Kazakhstan the 2 – 1 win.
Finland bounced back the next time out against Northern Ireland. A penalty from Joel Pohjanpalo gave Finland another lead at halftime, however, this time he was joined on the scoresheet by Daniel Hakans, Pukki and Robin Lod in a 4 – 0 win for Finland.
After a goalless first half, Finland opened the scoring with an eight minute brace from Pyry Soiri. A 97th minute penalty from Filippo Berardu did get San Marino on the scoresheet but Finland held on for the 2 – 1 win.
The play-offs saw Finland take on fellow Euros hopefuls Wales. David Brooks gave Wales the lead in the third minute and Neco Williams doubled the lead before Pukki found the back of the net for Finland on the stroke of halftime. However, in the second half both Brennan Johnson and Daniel James scored to give Wales the 4 – 1 win.
The most recent outing for Finland was against Estonia in a friendly. Frederik Jensen opened the scoring for Finland and an own goal from Karl Hein doubled the lead before halftime. Alex Matthias Tamm did score for Estonia in the second half, but Finland held on for the 2 – 1 win.