France and Portugal renew their European Championship rivalry tonight in a quarter-final showdown in which almost all of the focus will be on the two captains: Kylian Mbappe and Cristiano Ronaldo.
The last-eight encounter in Hamburg brings together two of the most fancied nations coming into Euro 2024, but who have not completely convinced so far in Germany.
France have reached a sixth quarter-final in the last seven major tournaments despite not one of their players scoring a goal in open play. The other side of the coin is that they have only let in one goal.
Mbappe has not been at his sharpest since returning from a broken nose and the spot-kick he converted against Poland is the only goal he has scored in seven appearances at the Euros.
Meanwhile, Portugal reached this stage by beating Slovenia in a penalty shootout following a goalless 120 minutes.
Goalkeeper Diogo Costa was the hero in saving all three of Slovenia’s efforts, but the game will also be remembered for Ronaldo’s tears after he had a penalty saved in extra time. Many feel Ronaldo, 39, is holding back a supremely talented Portugal side, but coach Roberto Martinez continues to defend the veteran forward.
Portugal must now try to find a way through a watertight French defense, while France boss Didier Deschamps needs to find a replacement in his midfield for the suspended Adrien Rabiot.
These sides met in the group phase of the last Euros three years ago, when Ronaldo netted two penalties for Portugal in a 2-2 draw.
When they have clashed in the knockout rounds, the winner has always gone on to lift the trophy. Portugal won the Euro 2016 final against France in Paris, while Michel Platini’s extra-time strike in the 1984 semi-final and Zinedine Zidane’s golden-goal penalty in the semis in 2000 lifted France.
