The 2016 European Championship final will be replayed in Hamburg on Friday, with the French looking to take revenge on Portugal in the quarter-finals for their bitter defeat at the European Championship on home soil.
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- France face Portugal in the European Championship quarter-finals. Neither team has been completely convincing so far.
- The clash is also a rematch of the 2016 final, with the French looking for revenge for their bitter defeat at their home European Championships.
Unspectacular, but successful: both the French and the Portuguese have so far failed to impress at the European Championship finals in Germany. France cheated their way into the quarter-finals with a goalless draw, a penalty and two own goals. Although Portugal emerged as group winners, they embarrassed themselves in their final preliminary round match against Georgia and came close to elimination against Slovenia.
To both teams' credit, they never lost their nerve. France continued to play calmly in the round of 16 despite wasting chances until the ball landed in the net five minutes before the end. Portugal showed their confidence in the penalty shoot-out.
There is a lot of quality in both teams. However, both Didier Deschamps' team and Roberto Martinez's side have yet to develop their potential - at least in attack. In addition to a broken nose, Kylian Mbappé has at least converted a penalty and scored a goal. Something that Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has so far been denied despite numerous chances.
It is likely to be a close duel between the 2018 world champions and the 2016 European champions, with a slight advantage for France, who are better equipped in the center of defence than their opponents. The Portuguese would do well not to send oldie Pepe (41) into an unequal running duel with the quick French attackers.
The record speaks for France. Between February 1983 and September 2015, Les Bleus racked up ten victories against Portugal. Of the last 14 matches against the Iberians, the Equipe Tricolore lost only one - the 2016 European Championship final on home soil.
The possible line-ups
Portugal - France
Hamburg. - Friday, 21:00. - Ref Oliver (ENG).
Portugal: 22 Costa; 20 Cancelo, 3 Pepe, 4 Dias, 19 Mendes; 6 João Palhinha, 23 Vitinha, 8 Bruno Fernandes; 10 Bernardo Silva, 7 Ronaldo, 17 Leão.
France: 16 Maignan; 5 Koundé, 4 Upamecano, 17 Saliba, 22 Hernandez; 13 Kanté, 8 Tchouameni, 6 Camavinga; 7 Griezmann, 15 Thuram, 10 Mbappé.
Comments: France without Rabiot (suspended).
SDA
