France and Portugal renew their European Championship rivalry on Friday in a quarter-final showdown in which almost all of the focus will be on the two captains, Kylian Mbappe and Cristiano Ronaldo.

France and Portugal renew their European Championship rivalry tonight in a quarter-final showdown in which almost all of the focus will be on the two captains: Kylian Mbappe and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The last-eight encounter in Hamburg brings together two of the most fancied nations coming into Euro 2024, but who have not completely convinced so far in Germany.

France have reached a sixth quarter-final in the last seven major tournaments despite not one of their players scoring a goal in open play. The other side of the coin is that they have only let in one goal.

Mbappe has not been at his sharpest since returning from a broken nose and the spot-kick he converted against Poland is the only goal he has scored in seven appearances at the Euros.

Meanwhile, Portugal reached this stage by beating Slovenia in a penalty shootout following a goalless 120 minutes.

Goalkeeper Diogo Costa was the hero in saving all three of Slovenia’s efforts, but the game will also be remembered for Ronaldo’s tears after he had a penalty saved in extra time. Many feel Ronaldo, 39, is holding back a supremely talented Portugal side, but coach Roberto Martinez continues to defend the veteran forward.

Portugal must now try to find a way through a watertight French defense, while France boss Didier Deschamps needs to find a replacement in his midfield for the suspended Adrien Rabiot.

These sides met in the group phase of the last Euros three years ago, when Ronaldo netted two penalties for Portugal in a 2-2 draw.

When they have clashed in the knockout rounds, the winner has always gone on to lift the trophy. Portugal won the Euro 2016 final against France in Paris, while Michel Platini’s extra-time strike in the 1984 semi-final and Zinedine Zidane’s golden-goal penalty in the semis in 2000 lifted France.

Related Posts

SAD NEWS: Willow Smith burst into tears when she discovered the contract her father Will Smith signed with Diddy. I never expected this suspicion to be true…see more

Willow Smith REVEALS how Will Smith SOLD hєr to Diddy bєcausє Diddy promisєd to… | HO Thє rumours and allєgations surrounding Will Smith and P Diddy, as wєll as Willow…

Read more

SAD NEWS: At 94, Michael Jackson’s mother reveals the shocking truth about her late son and what we’ve long suspected…see more

In a bombshell revelation that has stunned fans and the entertainment world, Katherine Jackson, now 94 years old, has come forward with a shocking confession about her late son, Michael…

Read more

Reginae Carter is happy to have financial independence and treat her close friends to a ‘big’ party in LA

Reginae Carter is happy to have financial independence and treat her close friends to a ‘big’ party in LA Reginae Carter, daughter of rapper Lil Wayne, exudes joy as she…

Read more

Rick Ross promised his daughter that she would not let her lose to anyone and gave her a crown studded with 100 diamonds worth more than $18M

Rick Ross gave his daughter a crown studded with 100 diamonds worth more than $20M and insisted that she would not lose to anyone In a heartfelt display of paternal…

Read more

Birdman gave Bria Williams a Mercedes G-Class on her 16th birthday in exchange for her daughter’s happy smile

On her 16th birthday, Bria Williams received an extravagant gift from her father, the legendary rapper Birdman. As the cameras flashed and onlookers gasped in awe, Birdman presented his daughter…

Read more

Lil Wayne and T-Painn recall the classic collaboration of the T-Painn album: ‘we almost stopped playing because there were so many conflicts’

Lil Wayne and T-Painnnn recall the classic collaboration of the T-Painnnn album: ‘we almost stopped playing because there were so many conflicts’ Lil Wayne and T-Painn reminisce on the iconic…

Read more

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *