Portugal - France summary: score, goals, highlights | Quarter-final Euro 2024
Portugal 0-0 France (3-4 pens): how it happened
Thanks for joining me tonight and I hope you enjoyed the excitement to the end. We'll be back soon with more live action.
French into semis: final thoughts
It was an intriguing game from the very beginning. OK, it was maybe not the thriller that many people had hoped for and expected when looking at the two sets of players, but the knife-edge that the game sat on throughout kept us engaged.
Over the piece, I felt Portugal were the tidier side, but both teams had several opportunities to turn this clash in their favour. None were taken.
From periods of caution, to moments of cut and thrust, there was always a suggestion that the game was about to hit the heights of entertainment. Although it rarely did, that anticipation – along with very nice play, of course – was enough to make it an enjoyable watch, and a penalty shootout was maybe the right ending to such a close encounter. But what a shame that Joao Felix will be remembered for missing his. Someone often has to.
Spain vs France now awaits us on Tuesday in what feels like the correct Euro 24 final a game too early.
France win on penalties
Some great penalties but that one miss from Felix sees Deschamps' troops progress.
Theo Hernández to win it for France... he scores!
Mendes... scores!
Best of the night. Roof corner. Wow!
Barcola steps up... scores!
Portugal must score the next one to stay alive.
Joao Felix... POST!!
Advantage France. 3-2 with three taken each
Kounde for France... scores. High, side netting. Top notch so far.
Silva...scores. High into the corner. Class.
It's two goals each. No misses
Fofana straight down the middle and scores.
Cristiano next. Stutters and scores. All square
Dembélé scores. Low to the right. Costa goes the other way.
The coin toss is complete and France will be going first. Dembélé is first up.
As the players prepare for the spot kicks, it's worth remembering that Costa saved the first three penalties taken by Slovenia in the last round, which was enough to take them through.
Surely that will be on the minds of the French.
Extra-time is over. Get ready for penalties.
WHAT. A. CHANCE:
When the clock is seconds away from the end, you want a free hit at goal. Mendes just had that but gets no real purchase on it and Maignan gathers with ease.
France then break but can't create that killer shot. That should be that.
Matheus Nunes is on for Vitinha (who was very good). A penalty taker por chance?
Loose play from Kante leads to a corner to Portugal.
With images of what happened with Bellingham for England in mind, Ronaldo half-heartedly goes for an overhead kick but is under severe pressure (unlike Jude) and never looked like making contact.
Nice run from Mbappé's replacement Barcola, drifting in between three defenders before mishitting from the side of goal. Will we have a killer moment before the final whistle? I'm not feeling it now.
It's easy to think that the players must be exhausted given where we are in the game but we've had so many changes that there's little excuse to drop the tempo for lots of the players out there.
Right now it's like a sparring contest, without any real punch.
Ronaldo has lots of green space ahead of him but Hernandez is quick and covers back well. Fair play to the former Real Madrid man, still right at it after 100 plus minutes.
SIDE NETTING! Some of the crowd were sure that went in.
Joao Felix, who came on for the impressive but tiring Leão, sneaks in at the back post to meet a lovely inswinging cross from Conceicao. It's a decent header but just the wrong side of the upright.
I'll give the Leti man an excuse as it was his first touch and from a tight angle.
Extra-time: second period
We go again. 15 mins to score. Or penalty shootout awaits.
Big change: Mbappé is off for the second period of extra-time.
21-year-old Barcola replaces him, as the new Madrid signing takes a place on the bench and puts an ice-pack on his face.
Peep! Time to switch sides.
There's not much break time here, just a chance to take on some water and have a few words of advice from the manager. Will either Martinez or Deschamps do something crazy?
Conceicao with likely the last chance of this period, collecting wide, and trying to bend it into the far top corner. Decent effort but not worrying Maignan.
CLOSE! A good five minutes or so keeping the ball and then Portugal decide it may actually be a good idea to snatch a goal. Upamecano is the hero for the French, blocking Leão's effort from close range.
The winger has been one of the most dangerous players tonight but has been quiet of late. What a MVP moment that could've been.
A period of controlled possession here from Martinez's players. Are they happy to just make it to penalties? Surely not.
What a brilliant weaving run from Dembélé, starting in his own half, leaving Portuguese players in his wake. He reaches the edge of the box and surely is about to pull the trigger.
Instead he rolls it out to Mbappé who is static and marked. The really promising move peters out. Goal of the tournament was a ping away.
RONALD... no! Great play on the right and Cristiano loses Upamecano well to open up the obvious pass. It's played just behind him and the scoring legend isn't able to wrap his foot around it. High over and sad face.
Straight away Mbappé takes the lead, sprinting at two covering defenders. As two becomes three, he finds the space just isn't enough to squeeze through with the ball and Portugal clear. More of that required.
Extra-time: first period
We're underway for the third time.
A quick reminder of what happens now. We will play the full 30 minutes (plus any added time) and if the scores are still level then we'll be enjoying the stress-free penalty shootout.
Peeeeeep! Regular time is up. We're heading to a further 30 of extra-time.
End to end indeed. Bernardo Silva is all alone in the French box as the ball drops from the sky. He strikes but a tremendous last-ditch block does its job.
From that the white shirts sprint away and Thuram does fabulously reach the byline. Where is the support? He has no one to pick out and Pepe gets back to clear.
Three minutes being added on here.
Good pressure building again from Portugal but Leão's final pass is slack and Mbappé breaks from deep. The counter is a good one and ends with Costa saving and holding a powerful Kante strike from distance.
Extra-time beckons.
Ronaldo hits it straight into the wall. Being as polite as I can, it was a poor decision to shoot from there.
Conceicao is such a handful. He's fought hard to get the ball back in midfield then collects a neat one two and forces a foul.
Free-kick at the corner of the 18-yard box and Ronaldo (he's still on) is shaping up.
No semi for Palhinha
As you may or may not know, players that accumulate yellow cards can be suspended for the next game. Here are those stars that are one booking away from missing the semi-final:
Portugal: João Cancelo, Ronaldo, Francisco Conceição, João Palhinha, Pedro Neto, Rúben Neves
France: Dembélé, Griezmann, Mbappé, Tchouameni
A booking for Palhinha has now ruled him out of a semi against Spain if Portugal progress.
This game could go either way. The decision is: take a chance to win it, or play it safe and hopefully not lose it. C'mon lads, take a chance!
So while I'm suggesting a replacement for Cristiano is the right call, Martinez decides it's Fernandes and Cancelo that need to be hooked. Semedo and the exciting Conceicao trot on.
The PSG winger is at it again. This time he comes inside and tries to curl it into the far corner. Costa seemed more sure than me that it was going wide.
Dembélé, who came on for Griezmann, has made an immediate impact on the right. France have balanced things up after that period of Portuguese dominance.
CLOSE! Camavinga is in, but he just drags his effort across goal and wide. What a chance.
With 20 minutes to go, I feel a goal is coming before the end.
While Ronaldo has contributed more than my half-time comments suggested, he's still too static for this Portugal set-up. Martinez could regret not making the change.
Zut alors!
SO CLOSE FOR FRANCE!!! With Portugal on top, Griezmann starts a counter and Muani is played in beautifully with only Costa to beat.
His strike hits the keeper and spins up and just wide of the far post. There were plenty in the stadium sure that was going in.
Wow! The Iberian side are on top and only and instinctive Maignan is keeping them out.
Vitinha then some improvisation from Ronaldo force the French number one into action, which he does admirably. Portugal looking dangerous and Leão is such a positive outlet.
This is more like it Portugal. Following Leão's lead, Fernades then Cancelo create decent chances but Maignan and then a slight miscue mean the scoreline hasn't changed.
Leão has been a little quieter this half but a blistering run brought him face-to-face with Maignan before a last ditch tackle prevents the shot.
And relax, or should I say, "et détends-toi!"
Kylian is back on and his mask is in place.
Mbappé down
Ouchie! The French captain was back helping his defenders and took a ball in the face. Remember the reason for his mask is due to him breaking his nose in the opening group game.
He'll go off for some treatment as a nation holds its breath.
This game is definitely warming up now.
We're going end to end, and Hernandez has created the best of the latest bunch, getting to the goalline and sliding a tempting pass across the six-yard box, between Costa and his defenders. No French player has gambled on it and its away.
Big penalty shout for Portugal but Oliver points for a goal kick. Not many complaints but I'll be keen to see that again.
Mbappé gets a shot away. More of that needed from the new Real Madrid man if France are going to worry Costa.
You have to love that. A perfect sliding tackle from Cancelo on Hernandez allows him to collect and take away the ball.
Theo knew it was a good one but gets up claiming a foul. Never.
Camavinga straight into his man and Oliver gives him a knowing look to calm down. I'll remind you in a few moments of the suspension tighrope.
Second half is go
Portugal get things going, playing left to right as I watch on.
Team talks done. Oranges or modern equivalents drunk. The players head back out and there must be a more adventurous approach ahead of us.
Portugal 0-0 France: half-time musings
So, no goals but what can I tell you about that first 45 minutes?
Is there much between the two teams? No.
Have there been any clear attempts at goal? No.
Which of the pre-game headliners Ronaldo or Mbappé has impressed most? The Frenchman has shown some nice moments while Cristiano, well, has done nothing.
It's been cagey, with occasional moments of 'ooh, this could be... no it's not'. A sense of not losing this game is trumping a desire to go out and win it. Surely that all changes in the second half.
Don't get me wrong. I've actually rather enjoyed it. OK, so it's not the swashbuckling style of De La Fuente's Spanish side, but the aforementioned cageyness is intriguing.
The talent on show, in midfield especially, continues to hint at something being about to spark. There have been passages of slick interplay, and when the likes of Mbappé, Silva, Griezmann and, more than anyone, Leão get on the ball, anticipation grows.
If I were Martinez, I'd be swapping Ronaldo for a more mobile alternative, probably Jota, to bring more fluidity to the final third. No doubt I'll be reminded of that opinion when the Al Nassr man heads in the winner. Let's see...
Stats at the break
Peeep! The whistle blows and we're heading in at the break with no goals.
France have done nothing of note in the last 10 minutes. It's not that Portugal have created much either but have certainly enjoyed possession of the ball.
The pace of the game has dropped and there is a feeling that half-time is a welcome interruption for them all.
Typical! After that last explanation, Portugal are handed a free-kick about 25 - 30 yards out. Here comes... oh!
Just when everyone (and I mean everyone!) is waiting for Cristiano to pick his spot in the stand high above the goal frame, Fernandes steps in and and tries his luck.
It would appear they share the same love for getting under it.
Where's Ronaldo?
Have you noticed that I haven't mentioned a certain Portuguese star's name since the build up? You could argue every media outlet's preview covered him enough there, anyway.
The truth is that he's only just had a couple of touches, and in a zone that France won't mind him doing so. If he's not involved soon, I'd be replacing him at half-time.
Defences are on top now but that may be more to do with my earlier comment about limited support being pushed on. Both teams are having little spells, and almost finding that perfect final pass.
Almost.
Greizmann and Kounde link up well, creating space to get a cross in from the defender high on the right. Maybe it's too early to throw bodies forward just yet and the volume of Portuguese defenders are in control of the situation.
France need to be more creative when they reach the area.
Well played, Pepe! What a tackle he's just made to prevent Muani getting away. At 41 it gives everyone hope at what's possible if you look after yourself.
Leão is loving this. If I'm Martinez, I'm telling my players to just give him the ball.
The latest moment of fun sees the Milan forward skip past Kounde again, before cutting the ball back from the goal line. It's cleared.
Chance for Griezmann to create something from a dead ball deep on the right. He flips it into the mixer but it's headed away.
No clear attempts on goal yet but we've flirted with the idea at both ends.
Mbappé's first burst!
That step over, that sprint, and he creates that slight space ahead of Cancelo to fire across the goal. Costa punches away and defenders congregate to finish the clearance.
Sloppy from Palhinha on the edge of his own area hands a chance to Theo Hernandez who it denied by a solid save from Costa.
It's opening up nicely and both sets of players giving glimpses of the undoubted talent.
Martinez must be happy with this period of play. The threat down the left, especially from Rafael Leão, is the hottest aspect of the game so far, with one of these crosses likely to eventually find the man.
That early cagey start is opening up now as these two look to ask questions and stretch their opponents. Plenty to do in that midfield for Kanté and Camavinga, allowing others to move into key spaces.
Mbappé acts like a masked thief!
Well, he claimed a corner that was never close to being his. Does he think we can't see him behind that thing?
We shouldn't talk about that, Bruno! A free-kick handed to Portugal on the left and a great chance to deliver into the danger area.
Fernandes instead scuffs it and France clear easily.
Really neat interplay from Portugal but the World Cup runners-up seem content to let it develop in front of them.
Pushing, probing, and then back to the defenders in their own half. no one is in a rush to take risks.
That opening strut from the French has now been picked up by the Portuguese. Spreading the play from one side to the other, I can't think of a better word to describe these early exchanges than "cagey".
Silva has a menacing look about him, eyeing up the defenders ahead of him on the right. But just as he hints at going at them, he changes his mind and works the ball back to a compatriot. Next time, Bernardo.
First opening comes from Muani, as the pass is played in from that right channel. And finally Portugal get a touch. Let's see what they can do with it.
It's all France for the opening moments, working the ball across the midfield and then searching out space down the right.
Portugal - France: kick off
We're underway!
Team colours as planned
The delicious red of Portugal. The white and blue of France. Everything is ready.
Well, a rousing couple of anthems there. Is there any better way to get into the mood for a belter of a game?
It's almost time...
France's "La Marseillaise"
Few national anthems evoke as much passion and historical significance as "La Marseillaise," the stirring anthem of France. Written and composed by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle in 1792, this anthem has become a symbol of freedom, revolution, and unity.
"La Marseillaise" was penned during the French Revolution, a period marked by radical social and political upheaval. Initially titled "Chant de guerre pour l'Armée du Rhin" (War Song for the Army of the Rhine), it was intended to inspire troops as they marched into battle. It quickly gained popularity and was renamed after the volunteers from Marseille who sang it as they entered Paris.
The anthem's lyrics are a call to arms, urging citizens to fight against tyranny and oppression. The famous opening line, "Allons enfants de la Patrie, Le jour de gloire est arrivé!" (Arise, children of the Fatherland, The day of glory has arrived!), captures the revolutionary zeal and patriotic fervor that defined the era.
"La Marseillaise" is a cherished emblem of French national pride. It is played at official events, sports matches, and national holidays, reminding the French people of their revolutionary heritage and the enduring values of liberty, equality, and fraternity.
Discover the spirit of Portugal: "A Portuguesa"
Did you know that the Portuguese national anthem, "A Portuguesa," is a powerful symbol of patriotism and resilience? Composed by Alfredo Keil and written by Henrique Lopes de Mendonça in 1890, this anthem captures the fervent spirit of the Portuguese people during a time of national turmoil.
"A Portuguesa" was born out of a protest against the British Ultimatum, which demanded Portuguese withdrawal from territories in Africa. The anthem quickly became a rallying cry for the people, embodying their desire for independence and resistance against foreign intervention.
The anthem's lyrics speak to the courage, faith, and indomitable spirit of the Portuguese nation. The opening lines, "Heróis do mar, nobre povo, Nação valente, imortal" (Heroes of the sea, noble people, Valiant and immortal nation), invoke a sense of pride and call upon the historical maritime achievements of Portugal.
"A Portuguesa" is more than just a song. It is an integral part of Portuguese identity, played at national events, sports competitions, and official ceremonies. It serves as a reminder of Portugal's rich history and the enduring spirit of its people.
Ronaldo and Mbappé in tunnel
With their teammates behind them, Cristiano and Kylian share a friendly moment in the tunnel ahead of walking out into the packed stadium.
Who's walking a tightrope
As you may or may not know, players that accumulate yellow cards can be suspended for the next game. Here are those stars that are one booking away from missing the semi-final:
Portugal: João Cancelo, Ronaldo, Francisco Conceição, João Palhinha, Pedro Neto, Rúben Neves
France: Dembélé, Griezmann, Mbappé, Tchouameni
Mastering both boxes
"It is an honour to face Cristiano. We are always in contact, and he gives me a lot of advice. Regardless of what he has done in football, and no matter what happens next, he will always be a legend.
"It is important to master both boxes because that's where the offensive and defensive differences are made. We have worked hard. We will be two teams with the ambition to reach the semifinal."
It's all over in Stuttgart!! And a late extra-time Merino winner puts Spain into the semi-finals.
They now await either Portugal or France...
Who is today's referee Michael Oliver?
Michael Oliver will officiate this quarter-final match.
At 39 years old, Oliver will be leading a team that includes English officials Stuart Burt, Dan Cook, and David Coote, along with Polish official Szymon Marciniak, who refereed the 2023 Champions League final.
In 2010, Oliver made history as the youngest Premier League referee at 25. Now one of the country's top officials, he has been a FIFA-listed referee since 2012 and has officiated at Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup.
Deschamps' athletic intensity
"We've got the quality and talent, but there are a lot of teams that have that. At the highest level, there's a need to be solid and work hard together. Everyone is progressing, and there's a common denominator between all these matches: the athletic intensity being at the very highest level."
Individual quality for Martinez
"We're now focused and ready for France. They are very strong but might leave space behind the lines. They can cause problems, but hopefully we will create more chances. The tournament now has different details, because you can win on penalties and you can create moments of individual quality."
Looking at these teams and how they've both performed in the tournament thus far, I'm struggling to pick a winner. There is every chance that this one cannot be decided in regulation time. "So, what happens then?," I hear you ask.
Well, there are clear guidelines and if the scores are level after 90 minutes we head into extra-time. If the two teams can still not be separated, it'll be the excitement (at least for us) of a penalty shootout.
Cristiano vs Mbappé
OK, so the chances of these two attacking players actually spending must time marking each other is slim, but there will still be comparisons made despite one being very much in the twilight of his top-level career.
The 39-year-old has had a mixed tournament, leading in shots but failing to score. His missed penalty against Slovenia was a significant moment, but stepping up to fire home the opener in the shootout showed his character.
Ronaldo's presence on the field is about more than just goals. His leadership, experience, and ability to influence the game are invaluable. With 20 shots in the tournament, he's been the focal point of Portugal’s attack. The question remains whether today will be the day he finally breaks his goal drought in Euro 2024.
Mbappé, on the other hand, is France’s current talisman, and soon potentially to take over from the Portuguese legend as Real Madrid's. The still young forward has scored one goal in the tournament – a penalty – but his overall contribution has been notable. His pace, dribbling, and ability to create chances make him a constant threat.
Deschamps will be looking for Mbappé to step up and deliver in this crucial match and a duel between him and Portugal’s Joao Cancelo will be one to watch closely.
You may be interested to know that the opening quarter-final between Spain and Germany has just entered extra-time after a late goal from the competition hosts tied things up at 1-1.
Our Joe is all over that one if you want to follow it live.
Starting XI: France
Maignan; Koundé, Upamecano, Saliba, Hernández; Tchouaméni, Kanté, Camavinga; Griezmann; Kolo Muani, Mbappé
Starting XI: Portugal
Diogo Costa; Cancelo, Pepe, Rúben Dias, Nuno Mendes; Palhinha; Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes; Bernado Silva, Ronaldo, Rafael Leão
This match marks the fifth meeting between Portugal and France at the European Championships.
France won the first two encounters, lifting the trophy on both occasions. However, Portugal has been unbeaten in the last two meetings, including the memorable Euro 2016 final. The Seleção will be looking to continue this trend and secure their place in the semi-finals.
Historically, the team that eliminates France at this stage of a major tournament often goes on to win the trophy. This was the case with Italy (1938 World Cup), Greece (Euro 2004), Spain (Euro 2012), and Germany (2014 World Cup). Will Portugal add their name to this list?
Our Pablo has taken a more detailed look at the rivalry between these teams.
Talking tactics: France
Deschamps has experimented with his attacking options but has yet to find a consistent scoring formula. The trio of Mbappé, Thuram, and Griezmann looked promising against Belgium but lacked the final touch. With Adrien Rabiot suspended, Deschamps might opt for Eduardo Camavinga in midfield, adding fresh legs and creativity.
France's defense, led by Dayot Upamecano and William Saliba, has been impenetrable. They boast the lowest expected goals against (xGA) in the tournament, a testament to their disciplined defensive approach.
Kante and Tchouameni provide a solid shield in front of the backline, allowing the full-backs to support the attack.
Team news should be in very soon...
Talking tactics: Portugal
Roberto Martínez has some big decisions to make, especially regarding his aforementioned captain, Ronaldo. Despite being one of the tournament's top shooters, Ronaldo is yet to find the back of the net here. Martínez might consider tweaking his frontline to add more dynamism. Players like Diogo Jota and Francisco Conceição could be given more prominent roles.
Portugal's strength lies in their midfield and defensive solidity. Joao Palhinha has been exceptional, and his imminent (I think) move to Bayern Munich is testament to his performances.
Alongside Vitinha, they form a robust midfield duo capable of both breaking up play and launching attacks. The wing play of Bernardo Silva and Rafael Leao will be crucial in stretching France’s defense.
The Cristiano factor
"You are forgiven for feeling a sense of deja vu in the coming minutes," begins Tim Spiers in his piece for The Athletic. "The question ‘should Cristiano Ronaldo be dropped by Portugal during this major international tournament?’ has been asked before, quite recently in fact."
As we await confirmed team news, have a read of what he has to say.
How they got here: France
France, on the other hand, had their own nail-biting encounter with Belgium. A solitary goal, courtesy of a deflection off Jan Vertonghen, was enough to see them through.
France’s defense has been their standout feature, keeping three clean sheets in four matches. Didier Deschamps’ men have struggled in front of goal, a trend they will hope to reverse today.
How they got here: Portugal
Portugal and France both had challenging paths to this quarter-final clash. Portugal faced a dramatic round of 16 match against Slovenia, which ended in a penalty shootout.
Diogo Costa's heroics between the sticks were pivotal, saving three penalties to secure their progression. Ronaldo, despite missing an extra-time penalty – when tears flowed – showed his resilience by scoring in the shootout.
Portugal vs France: welcome
It's the quarter-finals of the 2024 European Championships and we have a potential cracker for you here in Hamburg, Germany, as Portugal take on the 2022 World Cup runners-up France.
Not only do we have the two finalists of Euro 2016 – Portugal coming out on top on that day – but we also have two of the biggest names in world football representing their nations: Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappé.
There is actually so much more to this clash of two teams that have plenty of backers for going on to lift the title, so let's get on with the build-up...