In a heavyweight EURO 24 quarter-final showdown on Friday night, Portugal and France are set to clash in Hamburg. Portugal, who narrowly avoided a shocking exit at the hands of Slovenia earlier in the week, will be looking for a more polished performance. However, they suffered a surprising 2-0 defeat against Georgia in their final Group F match, highlighting some attacking issues. Despite this, Portugal had an impressive qualifying campaign, winning all 10 of their Group J appearances by an aggregate score of 36-2. They will be hoping to make a statement in this match.
Team news for Portugal includes Cristiano Ronaldo leading the attack and earning his 212th international cap. Liverpool’s Diego Jota, who made an impact off the bench against Slovenia, could also make his first start of the tournament. Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa will start in goal, while Fulham’s Joao Palhinha is expected to partner Bruno Fernandes in midfield.
As for France, they secured a late 1-0 victory against Belgium in their previous match. Despite only managing one win in their three Group D games, they are still considered strong contenders for the title. France has displayed solid defensive performances, conceding just one goal in their last six matches across all competitions. However, they have struggled to score from open play this summer.
France will be without Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot due to a costly booking against Belgium. Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga could replace him in midfield. Kylian Mbappe will lead France’s attack, supported by Arsenal’s William Saliba and Bayern Munich’s Dayot Upamecano in defense.
Key factors to consider include the 2-2 draw between Portugal and France in their previous meeting at the delayed EURO 20 tournament. France has lost only one of their 10 historic encounters with Portugal. Both teams have struggled to score goals recently, with Portugal drawing blanks for the first time since October 2020.
In conclusion, this match between Portugal and France is expected to be low-scoring, with chances at a premium. Both teams have shown attacking issues, and France has been solid defensively. Therefore, the verdict is for both teams not to score. The best odds for this outcome are 4/5, according to Dachbet.
