UEFA EURO 2024 Quarter Final : Portugal V/s. France Match Preview and Lineups

UEFA Euro 2024 Quarter Final

July 6, 2024 - Indian Date

Volksparkstadion

MATCH TIMES

India

12:30 AM

UAE

11:00 PM

Saudi Arabia

10:00 PM

FULL TIME

Portugal [0-0] France

Penalities: [3-5] - France Won on Penalties

Predicted Lineups:

Portugal possible starting lineup: Costa; Cancelo, Dias, Pepe, Mendes; Palhinha, Vitinha; Silva, Fernandes, Leao; Ronaldo

France possible starting lineup: Maignan; Kounde, Saliba, Upamecano, Hernandez; Kante, Tchouameni; Dembele, Griezmann, Mbappe; Kolo Muani

Match Preview

Portugal versus France in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals at the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg promises to be an electrifying encounter, rekindling memories of their 2016 final clash. This high-stakes match will feature two of football's most iconic players, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappe, going head-to-head. Both teams had dramatic paths to this stage, with Portugal overcoming Slovenia in a tense penalty shootout, while France edged past Belgium with a narrow 1-0 victory.

Portugal's journey to the quarter-finals has been anything but smooth. Their recent match against Slovenia was a rollercoaster of emotions, especially for Cristiano Ronaldo. The 39-year-old forward's quest for a goal in Euro 2024 was thwarted by Jan Oblak’s remarkable penalty save in extra time, leading to an emotional reaction from the Portuguese star. Despite their inability to score in regulation and extra time, Portugal prevailed in the shootout thanks to Diogo Costa's heroics. Costa's three penalty saves made him the first male goalkeeper to achieve such a feat in a European Championship shootout, ensuring Portugal's progression and overshadowing their offensive struggles. Portugal's form has been inconsistent, with their last two matches ending without a goal, including a surprising 2-0 defeat to Georgia. However, their resilience and ability to perform under pressure have kept their hopes alive.

France, on the other hand, have not displayed their usual attacking prowess but have demonstrated solid defensive performances. Didier Deschamps's side secured their quarter-final spot with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Belgium, where a deflected goal from Randal Kolo Muani made the difference. France’s attacking output has been limited, with no goals from open play in four matches. Despite this, their defensive solidity has been impressive, conceding only one goal in their last six matches, a penalty from Poland's Robert Lewandowski. This defensive strength has been crucial in their campaign, helping them to banish the memories of their disappointing Euro 2020 performance.

The head-to-head matchup between Ronaldo and Mbappe will undoubtedly capture the headlines, but the match will also evoke memories of Portugal's solitary victory over France in their last 13 meetings, the famous 1-0 win in the Euro 2016 final courtesy of Eder’s goal. Their most recent encounter ended in a 2-2 draw during the group stage of Euro 2020, a match characterized by three penalties. As both teams prepare for this crucial quarter-final clash, their contrasting strengths—Portugal's resilience and France's defensive solidity—promise a compelling contest with a potential semi-final berth against either Spain or Germany on the line.