Friday’s Euro 2024 quarterfinal between powerhouses Portugal and France evokes recollections of the 2016 showpiece at Hamburg’s Volksparkstadion.
Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal secured a dramatic victory over Slovenia in a tense penalty shootout.
Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappe’s Les Bleus managed a slim 1-0 win over Belgium, although they had been removed from their dominant finest.
Portugal confronted Slovenia in a gripping Euro 2024 encounter that examined either side’ mettle.
Despite his efforts, Ronaldo’s quest for a purpose on this match continued to elude him, thwarted notably by Jan Oblak’s heroic save from the Selecao famous person’s extra-time penalty try.
The match unfolded with emotional depth, Ronaldo visibly moved as the sport progressed.
Bolstered by their defensive resolve, Slovenia held off Portugal’s advances within the last quarter-hour of additional time.
However, it was a unique story when it got here all the way down to penalties.
Portugal’s goalkeeper, Diogo Costa, emerged because the hero of the hour, making historical past as the primary male goalkeeper to save lots of three penalties in a European Championship shootout.
His stellar efficiency propelled the 2016 champions into the quarterfinals, overshadowing his teammates’ struggles in opposition to Matjaz Kek’s decided Slovenian squad.
Having surpassed their earlier Euro 2020 exit, Portugal face a frightening semifinal prospect in opposition to both Spain or Germany, pending their conflict with France in Hamburg.
Despite their latest scoring challenges, notably being held scoreless of their final two Euro 2024 outings and struggling a shock defeat to Georgia within the group stage, Fernando Santos’ aspect stays resilient.
Their upcoming opponents, nonetheless, have additionally confronted scrutiny for his or her offensive efficiency, setting the stage for a fiercely aggressive path ahead within the match.
After 4 matches, Les Bleus have but to attain a purpose from open play, but Didier Deschamps’s squad finds themselves within the quarterfinals as soon as extra, casting apart the frustration of Euro 2020.
Following a lackluster group stage exhibiting the place their targets got here from an Austria defender, Maximilian Wober, and a Kylian Mbappe penalty, France confronted Belgium, mixing youthful expertise with a heralded “golden generation.”
The match was determined by a member of the latter, with Randal Kolo Muani’s shot deflecting off Jan Vertonghen within the eighty fifth minute, sealing Belgium’s destiny in Dusseldorf.
Despite Les Bleus’ struggles in assault, Deschamps may draw satisfaction from one other stellar defensive show, securing their third clear sheet in 4 Euro 2024 matches. Robert Lewandowski’s penalty for Poland stays the only real purpose conceded by France of their final six outings.
While the Ronaldo-Mbappe showdown grabs headlines, it is price recalling Eder’s much less heralded however decisive purpose in Portugal’s historic Euro 2016 last victory over France.
However, that is still Portugal’s sole win of their final 13 encounters in opposition to Les Bleus, together with a memorable 2-2 draw within the 2021 group stage conflict that featured three penalties.
Intensity
Martinez and the Portugal medical workers will conduct thorough checks on their gamers who accomplished a grueling 120 minutes on Monday.
As of now, there are not any critical health considerations for the 2016 champions forward of the quarterfinals.
Looking forward to Friday’s match, Ronaldo is ready to earn his 212th cap, a milestone in his illustrious profession.
Despite firing 20 photographs on purpose with out discovering the web on this match, he joins a choose few in Euro historical past who’ve confronted comparable droughts.
The lineup might even see Diogo Jota and Francisco Conceicao being thought-about for beginning roles, whereas Silva and Rafael Leao have solidified their locations within the Selecao assault. Vitinha and Joao Palhinha are anticipated to retain their positions in midfield with out jeopardy.
Meanwhile, France faces a mandatory change as Adrien Rabiot, now a free agent after his Juventus contract expired, is suspended following his second yellow card within the last-16 victory over Belgium.
Deschamps has choices to switch Rabiot, together with Ousmane Dembele, Eduardo Camavinga, Youssouf Fofana or Warren Zaire-Emery, relying on tactical preferences.
The solely doubtless absentee for Les Bleus could possibly be Kingsley Coman, who, like Phil Foden earlier within the match, has departed the squad for the delivery of his little one.
Rabiot performed a pivotal function in a midfield diamond formation for Les Bleus in Dusseldorf, supporting Marcus Thuram alongside Mbappe. However, Inter Milan’s striker was substituted after an hour and could also be prone to shedding his beginning spot to Kolo Muani.
Source: www.dailysabah.com