A taste of revenge. Beaten by Portugal in the final of Euro 2016, the French team will meet the Seleçao in the quarter-finals of the 2024 edition, Friday July 5 at the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg (Germany). Both teams struggled through the round of 16, with the Blues dismissing Belgium without shining (1-0), while the Portuguese eliminated Slovenia on penalties (0-0, 3-0 on penalties).
The two teams had already met again in the group stage of Euro 2021 (2-2), but both reached the knockout stage. This time, only one will survive. Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappé, who have not yet shone in this 17th edition, may hold the keys to the match.
Two selections qualified without convincing
After three rather unenthusiastic matches in the group stage (1-0 against Austria, 0-0 against the Netherlands, 1-1 against Poland), the French team only found the net ten minutes from the end against Belgium (1-0). Portugal remained silent in the round of 16 against Slovenia (0-0, 3-0 on penalties), but came out of their group in first position (2-1 against the Czech Republic, 3-0 against Turkey, 0-2 against Georgia).
Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappé, discreet stars
The future and former Real Madrid striker both embody their team’s offensive inefficiency. Cristiano Ronaldo, the top scorer in the history of the Euro (14 goals), has yet to find the net in this edition. Kylian Mbappé scored his first goal in the European Championship on a penalty, against Poland, but is not yet leading the attack of the Blues as he did in the last two World Cups.
The hellish journey of the Blues
By finishing second in their group, behind Austria, the French team has made things much more difficult for themselves in the competition. After Belgium in the round of 16, and in the event of a victory against Portugal, the Tricolores would meet a third European big name in the semi-final: the winner of the match between Spain and Germany.