Portugal vs France: Two underwhelming giants looking for spark
Both Portugal and France will be looking to finally get their respective tournaments going when they lock horns in the EURO 2024 quarter-finals on Friday. This match will also be a rematch of the EURO 2016 final, which was won by Portugal by the narrowest of margins. Despite the caliber of players in their respective ranks, neither Portugal nor France have really impressed so far at this summer’s competition, yet, as it were, both are just a few games away from potentially lifting the trophy.
Portugal come into this match having started their group stage off well, with comfortable wins against the Czech Republic and Turkey to ensure that Roberto Martinez’s men qualified for the round of 16 with a game to spare. For some reason, they decided to then take their foot off the gas against Georgia – and were made to pay dearly as the debutants snatched a 2-0 win to pull off one of the biggest upsets so far at EURO 2024. But if one thought that result would wake Portugal up, it certainly did not. The Selecao were surprisingly inefficient against a very determined Slovenia side that were content with parking everyone behind the ball and soaking up pressure.
It was indeed a very frustrating day at the office for Cristiano Ronaldo, with the 39-year-old aiming to score in what is his sixth EURO appearance. The multiple Ballon d’Or winner finally did get a clear chance after Portugal were given a dubious penalty in extra time, and when he stepped up, there were quite a few who already were eagerly awaiting the veteran striker to perform one of his trademark celebrations.
However, Slovenia’s titan in between the posts, Jan Oblak, had other ideas. The Atletico Madrid shot-stopper is very well acquainted with Ronaldo, as the two have faced off time and time again at club and international level over the years and pulled off one of his trademark saves to keep Slovenia very much into the contest. The pressure appeared to be too much for Ronaldo, who shockingly burst into tears after failing to convert, but his tears soon turned to joy as he was able to redeem himself during the penalty shoot-out. With Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes both also converting from 12 yards out, coupled with Diogo Costa saving every single one of Slovenia’s attempts, Portugal now were through to the quarter-finals for the seventh time, where they will take on a France side who also have yet to really get up and running.
France, who are hoping to win what would be their third EURO title this summer, have been quite poor so far, especially on the attacking front. Les Bleus are still yet to score a goal from open play. Didier Deschamps’s team beat Austria 1-0 via an unfortunate own goal Maximilian Wober before being held to a drab, scoreless stalemate against the Netherlands. On matchday three, they were quite disappointing yet again as they managed to earn a point against Poland, with Kylian Mbappe converting from the spot.
Les Bleus showed no signs of real improvement in the round of 16, where they faced a Belgium side who have not impressed whatsoever in this contest. Yet, France’s misfiring attack were not able to find a breakthrough and once again needed an own goal from their opponents to finally decide that tie. That being said, despite their blunt attack, France overall have been solid enough on the defensive front, with only Robert Lewandowski’s consolation penalty for Poland being the sole instance they have conceded a goal so far.
Many eyes will be on Friday’s contest, and not just because it will be interesting to see if either of these two underperforming sides finally wake up. It will also see two star players facing off, with veteran Cristiano Ronaldo pitted against a Kylian Mbappe who is now in the prime of his career. Mbappe has made no secret of his idolization of Ronaldo, but any admiration will be put firmly on the backburner as he hopes to play a vital role in helping revive his team on Friday.
Interestingly, Portugal’s sole win from their last 13 matches against France was during that famous EURO 2016 final eight years ago. Will they pull off another similar result on Friday, or will France finally awaken and show everyone that they do deserve to be taken seriously as contenders for the coveted prize?
