‘Pure slapstick’: Turkey’s horror Euros blunder eviscerated

Turkey have lived a Euros nightmare after gifting Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal side an absolute gift in their clash.

Portugal have booked their place in the last 16 of Euro 2024 after claiming a 3-0 win over Turkey on Saturday — but it wasn’t without a bit of help.

Despite the loss, Turkey sit second in Group F and face an all-important clash against Czechia on Thursday.

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Turkey remain in the box seat after Georgia claimed a historic point against Czechia in a 1-all draw.

But Turkey will want to be better than they were against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal, having been their own worst enemies.

After conceding an 21st minute goal to Bernardo Silva, Turkey scored a comical own goal.

There appeared no danger for the Turkey defence following a poor pass by Joao Cancelo aimed at Ronaldo, but Samet Akaydin’s attempted backpass rolled beyond the reach of goalkeeper Altay Bayindir and crossed the line despite the efforts of Zeki Celik to clear.

The Telegraph’s James Ducker described the moment as “an own goal of such pure slapstick that it would have been funny enough in isolation.”

Watch the goal in the video player above.

This is where it all went wrong. Photo: Optus Sport

Oh no. Photo: Optus Sport

Turkey’s boss Vincenzo Montella was fuming as the horror moment cost the Turkish side dearly.

“We had our chances and we didn’t capitalise, they punished us for every little error. It was an even match and the bad luck of the second goal — which can happen in football — changed the balance of the game,” Montella told reporters.

“It was a fairly obvious misunderstanding. Every now and again it happens and unfortunately it happened to the team I manage, I would have preferred it to happen to the opposition but there you go.”

Turkey need a draw with the Czech Republic in their final group match on Wednesday to guarantee second place behind Portugal and a last-16 spot.

And Montella was encouraged by his team’s display in front of a partisan crowd of Turkish supporters in Dortmund.

“For long periods of the match we played on the same level as one of the best teams at this tournament. They were just more clinical than we were,” Montella added.

“They have more players used to playing in matches like this and maybe that made a difference.”

Portugal celebrate the own goal. Photo by OZAN KOSE / AFP

After the own goal, Turkey never looked like getting back into the game and Portugal got their third goal early in the second half as Ronaldo found himself in on goal but unselfishly squared for Bruno Fernandes to finish.

Having already beaten the Czechs 2-1, Portugal have six points out of six and are now certain to win the section even before playing Georgia in Gelsenkirchen on Wednesday.

They therefore know they will play a last-16 tie in Frankfurt on July 1 against one of the best third-place finishers.

“We are mainly very happy with the three points, with the qualification in first place, and it is just another step for being closer to our goal, a goal that is still very far away which is to try to win the cup,” said Silva.

“We are first in the group and we can make changes in the next game which for me is very important as there are lots of players in the dressing room who deserve to play,” added coach Roberto Martinez.