Portugal survive late scare in 4-2 friendly win over Finland in Euro 2024 warmup

LISBON – Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes came off the bench to score twice and help Portugal kick off their Euro 2024 preparation with a 4-2 win over non-qualifiers Finland on June 4.

Portugal were without captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who is resting before reporting for duty on June 7 ahead of his sixth European Championship, so manager Roberto Martinez fielded a much-changed squad who dominated from the start in Lisbon.

Defender Ruben Dias gave the hosts the lead with a stooping header from a corner in the 17th minute and Diogo Jota extended their advantage from the spot after winger Francisco Conceicao was fouled inside the area in stoppage time before the break.

Fernandes said of Conceicao: “Francisco had a very good game, he is an electric player and without the ball he works a lot. In reacting to the ball being lost, he is very quick and is very well positioned.

“You can see that he was trained by his father, who cares a lot about these details. We want players who can provide different qualities, so we can be complete as a group.”

Conceicao’s father Sergio played 56 times for Portugal and won three league titles as coach of Porto before leaving the club earlier this week.

Fernandes, one of five substitutes who came on at half time, netted Portugal’s third with a fine curling shot into the upper corner from the edge of the box in the 55th minute.

Finland substitute Teemu Pukki took advantage of a complacent Portugal defence to score twice within five minutes to bring his side back into the game.

However, Fernandes took charge and secured the win with a close-range strike in the 84th minute.

In another match on June 4, Hungary’s 14-match unbeaten run came to an end in a 2-1 loss away to Ireland in their penultimate warm-up game before Euro 2024, but their coach Marco Rossi was more disappointed at how they conceded a late goal.

A Troy Parrott goal in added time gave hosts Ireland an unexpected win. They had led through Adam Idah in the 36th minute before Hungary levelled four minutes later through Adam Lang.

“It is impossible to concede such a goal in the 92nd minute. We wanted to win, but if you can’t score the winning goal, you have to learn to keep the draw,” Rossi said.

Hungary’s last defeat came in September 2022, in a Nations League game against Italy, and they topped their Euro 2024 qualifying group, but the longest active unbeaten run of any European country came to an end against a side not involved in the Finals.

“I don’t think the 14-game unbeaten situation made us more tense,” Rossi said.

“For the most part, we controlled the game, we played as planned, but don’t forget that there is an opponent on the pitch.”

Hungary chased a late winner, but instead they were caught by a counter-attack, which Parrott finished off. REUTERS