UEFA Euro 2024: Who Is Francisco Conceicao, Portugal's Hero Against Czechia?

Francisco Conceicao was instrumental in Portugal's vital win over Czechia who put the ball past the Czechia goalkeeper in their UEFA Euro 2024 group stage game in Leipzig in Germany

Francisco Conceicao, POR Vs CZE, UEFA Euro 2024, AP Photo
Francisco Conceicao (C) celebrates his side's goal during a Group F match between Portugal and Czech Republic at Euro 2024. Photo: AP
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Portugal scored an injury-time winner thanks to Francisco Conceicao, who put the ball past the Czechia net in their UEFA Euro 2024 group stage game in Leipzig in Germany. (Match Report | More Football News)

Francisco stepped onto the pitch at the end of regulation time and turned the match on its head with a winner for Roberto Martinez's side. The goal was also his first in international colours, which secured three vital points for Portugal in their Group F encounter.

He even earned plaudits from his coach Roberto Martinez. The Portugal boss told reporters: "He deserves it. He always works with one eye in front of the goal, he sniffs out goals.

"He was the fireworks we needed today."

Portugal completed 368 passes in the first half of this match, their most in a single half of football at the European Championship finals on record (since 1980), without finding any reward.

Who Is Francisco Conceicao?

Conceicao is the son of former Portugal footballer Sergio Conceicao, who was his country's hat-trick star at the Euro 2000, against Germany. Francisco made his international debut in March this year.

His early days were spent at FC Porto after moving out of Lisbon academy and in 2021, made his senior team appearance. Conceicao won the domestic double, Primeira Liga and Taça de Portugal before moving to the Netherlands with Ajax in 2022.

However, Ajax's troubles and lack of game time there saw him return to Porto where he returned to his old self, scoring and creating eight goals and also won the Taça de Portugal.

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