France remain in search of their first goal from open play at EURO 2024, but Kylian Mbappe and Co., are through to the semifinals anyway, set to face Spain on July 9 in Munich, after beating Portugal 5-3 in a penalty shootout on Friday.
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Les Bleus scored just twice during the group stage (once from the penalty spot and once via own goal), only to advance in the round of 16 after Jan Vertonghen put the ball into his own net for Belgium. At the same time, Mike Maignan is red-hot in goal and has conceded just one goal in 480 minutes at EURO 2024.
For all of the world-class attacking talent on display between France and Portugal, it was a rather drab affair for the first hour, but the game sprang to life in the final 60 minutes and it was a minor miracle that both sides hadn’t score multiple times by the end. Rafael Leao was at the heart of Portugal’s best chances as he raced past Jules Kounde repeatedly, but couldn’t find the final ball inside the box. Cristiano Ronaldo departs EURO 2024 without scoring a goal despite playing 486 of 510 minutes for Portugal.
As for France, it was much the same from Mbappe, who has only scored from the penalty spot in this tournament and continues to be hampered by the broken nose he suffered in the opener. He appeared to remove himself from the game halfway through extra time, voluntarily handing the captain’s armband to head coach Didier Deschamps as he spoke to the team between periods.
In the end, it came down to penalty kicks and it was Joao Felix who failed to convert from the spot, putting Portugal’s third attempt off the front of the post.
Portugal vs France highlights, final score: 0-0 (3-5 PKs)
Goalscorers: None
Penalty kick takers
Portugal
Made: Cristiano Ronaldo, Bernardo Silva, Nuno Mendes
Missed: Joao Felix
France
Made: Ousmane Dembele, Youssouf Fofana, Jules Kounde, Bradley Barcola, Theo Hernadez
Missed: None
Despite a wave of late scoring chances, we are headed to extra time
If you missed the opening hour and only just tuned in for the final 30 minutes of regular time, you are the real winner. Everything we hoped and expected this powerhouse matchup could be, was in the last half-hour. It was all going Portugal’s way, until Ousmane Dembele came on in the 67th minute and immediately began terrorizing Portugal on the counter. Alas, the finish touch from Kylian Mbappe, Randal Kolo Muani and Eduardo Camavinga was not there. More of the same in extra time, please.
Eduardo Camavinga pulls France’s best chance wide from close range
At long last, this game has come to life at both ends and the scoring chances are really flowing. The best one of the game came in the 70th minute, when Eduardo Camavinga, completely unmarked, picked up a blocked cross on the corner of the six-yard box, turned and fired just wide of the far post. Not a single person inside the Volksparkstadion could believe what they just saw.
Portugal piling on the pressure just before the hour mark; France holding on
Rafael Leao continues to terrorize the right side of France’s defense, forcing Eduardo Camavinga to make an incredible last-ditch sliding tackle along the end line to snuff out one threat, before Bruno Fernandes was denied by a fantastic save by Mike Maignan. A minute later, Leao delivered a near-post cross to Vitinha, but Maignan made another sensational stop and cleared the ball away from Cristiano Ronaldo as the rebound spilled on the goal line.
It’s halftime, and we’re still awaiting a shot from inside the penalty area
There was no shortage of action and foot-to-foot combat in the first half, but Portugal and France produced just five shots in the opening 45 minutes and only one of them was on target (left back Theo Hernandez, from 30 yards out). Both sides looked to defend with numbers behind the ball and break out on the counter — and they did so, just without any end product. 0.15 xG between the two teams.
Tactical, cagey start but Mbappe, Leao starting to get involved for France, Portugal
No shots in the opening 15 minutes, but Rafael Leao has been consistently dangerous for Portugal down the left wing, beating Jules Kounde on multiple occasions already. Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappe has won a foot race or two to get in behind for France, but the final ball has (thus far) eluded everyone.
Portugal starting lineup
Costa - Cancelo, Dias, Pepe, Mendes - Palhinha, Vitinha, Fernandes - Silva, Leao, Ronaldo
France starting lineup
Maignan - Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Hernandez - Tchouameni, Kante, Camavinga - Griezmann, Kolo Muani, Mbappe
How to watch Portugal vs France, stream link and start time
Kick off: 3pm ET, Friday (July 5)
Stadium: Volksparkstadion, Hamburg
How to watch on TV, stream in USA: Fox Sports
Portugal team news, focus
The main issue for Portugal is that they have to stop giving up big chances on the counter. It has happened all tournament long and Costa bailed them out against Slovenia. Veteran defender Pepe has been excellent and he will probably start again due to a lack of central defensive options. Portugal have so many attacking options with Joao Felix, Pedro Neto and Goncalo Ramos not even getting off the bench in the last 16.
France team news, focus
There will be at least one change for Deschamps as Adrien Rabiot is suspended for this quarterfinal due to yellow card accumulation. That means Eduardo Camavinga is likely to start in central midfield alongside Kante and Aurelien Tchouameni. France’s back four is extremely solid, while Mike Maignan made some big stops in goal against Belgium. The key for France is continuing to create big chances and the next step is now being more clinical and getting Mbappe on the ball as much as possible with Antoine Griezmann nearby.
Portugal vs France prediction
This feels like a game too far for Portugal. They have supreme quality in attack but so do France and Les Bleus look more solid defensively too. Portugal 0-1 France.
