The French team faces Portugal to reach the semi-finals of Euro 2024.
20:50 – The sun is hiding
The French team will not be bothered by the sun on this summer evening in Hamburg to face Portugal. Indeed, it is very cloudy above the Volksparkstadion. The temperature, however, is pleasant for a match since it is around 16 degrees.
20:45 – Two failures in the quarterfinals
Portugal have qualified for the quarter-finals of the Euro seven times in their history and have qualified five times (1984, 2000, 2004, 2012 and 2016). Their only two failures came in 1996 against Karel Poborsky’s Czech Republic (0-1) and in 2008 against Miroslav Klose’s Germany (2-3).
20:40 – Another extension?
The French team and Portugal have met three times in a knockout match at the Euro. Each time, the match was decided after extra time but never on penalties. In 1984, Jean-François Domergue scored twice before Michel Platini did not deliver the Blues in the semi-finals at the end of extra time (3-2 ap). Sixteen years later, at the same stage of the competition, Thierry Henry had responded to Nuno Gomes in regulation time before Zinédine Zidane did not convert a penalty in the 117th minute (2-1 ap). The third occurrence was in 2016. A painful memory for the Tricolores since at home, they had been crucified by Eder in the 109th minute (0-1, ap).
20:38 – Spain advances to the semi-finals
With 20 minutes to go before the quarter-final kick-off, the other match of the day has just ended and Spain got the better of Germany after extra time. Dani Olmo opened the scoring shortly after the break before Florian Wirtz equalised at the end of regulation time. A sign that the substitutes had the key to this match, it was Mikel Merino who sent Spain to the semi-finals with a header in the final moments, following a decisive Olme cross. La Roja will therefore face France or Portugal in the last four.
20:35 – Roberto Martinez firmly believes in it
After coming close to elimination against Slovenia, Portugal approach their quarter-final with a new mindset and the feeling that they can withstand anything. “We are now focused and ready to face France. They are very strong but can leave spaces between their lines. They can cause problems but I hope we will create more chances. The tournament is different now because you can win on penalties and one player can tip the balance.”Roberto Martinez said at a press conference.
8:30 p.m. – 13/14
France have lost just one of their last 14 games against Portugal. That sole defeat came in the Euro 2016 final. Over that period, dating back to 1975, Les Bleus have won 11 games and drawn two.
20:25 – Six Portuguese in danger
There are six Portuguese players who risk a suspension for a possible semi-final if they are cautioned against France: João Cancelo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Francisco Conceição, João Palhinha, Pedro Neto, Rúben Neves.
20:20 – The Portuguese in full
To face France in the quarter-finals, Roberto Martinez has not changed anything in his starting eleven and will still rely on his captain Cristiano Ronaldo up front. He will be supported by Bernardo Silva and Leao. In the middle, we find Bruno Fernandes accompanied by Parisian Vitinha and Joao Palhinha. Behind, Nuno Mendes will keep the left corridor while Joao Cancelo will be on the right. In the axis, Pepe is there next to Ruben Dias to keep access to the surface where Diogo Costa will guard the Portuguese goal.
20:15 – A tenth quarter-final
The French team is playing its 10th quarter-final in its history at the Euro this Friday, July 5. It has managed to qualify five times in 1960, 1984, 1996, 2000 and 2016, while failing four times in 1964, 1968, 2004 and 2012.
20:10 – Four French people threatened
If Adrien Rabiot is suspended for the quarter-final, four other French players are subject to a suspension in the event of a warning: Antoine Griezmann, Kylian MbappéOusmane Dembélé and Aurélien Tchouaméni.
20:05 – The hero Diogo Costa
Last Tuesday, Portugal had to go to a penalty shootout to get through against Slovenia (0-0, 3-0 on penalties). Unable to score against Jan Oblak who stopped a penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo in extra time, the Portuguese were able to count on a gala Diogo Costa, who made a decisive save against Benjamin Sesko before putting on a show during the penalty shootout where he stopped all three Slovenian attempts.
20:03 – The Portuguese launch the supporters’ match
While just over 8,000 French supporters are expected this evening at the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg, their Portuguese counterparts have also travelled to northern Germany and launched the festivities.
19:58 – Kolo Muani starts, the composition of the Blues!
The composition of the French team has just been revealed and as we expected, it’s good Randal Kolo Muani who will start the quarter-final against Portugal. He will accompany captain Kylian Mbappé and Antoine Griezmann in attack. In the middle, we find Eduardo Camavinga who replaces Adrien Rabiot, suspended. He will be associated with the immovable N’Golo Kanté and Aurélien Tchouaméni. In defense, no changes compared to previous matches with William Saliba and Dayot Upamecano in the axis, supervised by Jules Kounde on the right and Théo Hernandez on the left.
19:55 – A glimpse into the French locker room
While the French players have been scouting the pitch, everything is ready to welcome them into the locker room at the Hamburg stadium.
19:50 – Vertonghen qualifies the Blues
On Monday evening, the French team dug deep but did not tremble to eliminate Belgium in the round of 16 of Euro 2024 (1-0). Dominant, they lacked precision for a long time, like Aurélien Tchouaméni, and waited until the end of the match and a missed shot from Randal Kolo Muani but blocked by Jan Vertonghen to find the flaw.
19:40 – A referee with a British accent
The match between France and Portugal will be refereed by Englishman Michael Oliver. He will be assisted by his compatriots Stuart Burt and Dan Cook. The role of fourth official will be assigned to Polish Szymon Marciniak. The video assistance will be led by Dutchman Pol van Boekel, assisted by Englishman David Coote and Polish Tomasz Kwiatkowski.
19:35 – The Blues in the square
The French national team players arrived at the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg just under an hour and a half before the start of the Euro 2024 quarter-final against Portugal. The tension will now rise to a crescendo for Kylian Mbappé and his teammates.
19:30 – Anelka believes in the Blues
Asked by Marca, Nicolas Anelka gave his prediction for the quarter-final between France and Portugal. Unsurprisingly, the former Blues striker is betting on the men of Didier Deschamps. “I see a very tight match… They are two great teams. You have to count on Mbappé and, on the other hand, Cristiano, capable of deciding any match. Everyone likes these kinds of duels. France has a better chance of winning because it has a good defense and I think it will wake up.”judges the 2000 European champion.
19:10 – Nuno Mendes issues warning to Mbappé
“I train every day for this kind of moment. We are all prepared for this match against France and we will do everything we can to annihilate their forces and play our game,” explained Nuno Mendes. “To be honest, he will not play on my side. If he goes to my side, I will be prepared,” said the PSG player about his former teammate Kylian Mbappé.
18:50 – “It’s urgent”
The captain of the French team was also asked about the upcoming legislative elections and declared that there was urgency before this 2nd round. “It is really urgent. We cannot put the country in the hands of these people, it is really urgent. We have seen the results, it is catastrophic.” It remains to be seen whether the players will actually make this famous statement that we have been talking about since the beginning of the Euro.
18:20 – No favorite for Bernardo Silva
“There is no favourite, both nations have incredible players who can make the difference and both have the legitimacy to compete for the title” explained the former Monaco player before this France – Portugal.
17:50 – Spain – Germany quarter
The quarter-final between Germany and Spain will begin in a few minutes. This clash, which looks like a final, obviously concerns the French team since it is the potential opponent of the Blues for the semi-finals. The match to follow here.
17:20 – Kanté’s invincible stat
N’Golo Kanté (33 years old, 59 caps, 2 goals) is unbeatable! The midfielder continued his incredible unbeaten run with the Blues against Belgium. He has never lost a Euro or World Cup match in which he has participated (19 matches in total).
16:50 – The Blues, in white
UEFA revealed on Tuesday the colours that France and Portugal will have to wear on Friday during the Euro quarter-final in Hamburg. And for the fourth time in the competition, the French will play in their white jersey. So far this jersey has brought luck to the Blues.
16:20 – 8200 French people expected
UEFA has allocated 7,100 tickets to the FFF for the Portugal-France quarter-final, this Friday in Hamburg at 9pm. This quota, reserved for members of the Supporters’ Club, is in addition to an initial 1,100 tickets. 8,200 French supporters are therefore expected for this quarter-final of Euro 2024.