Like a feeling of déjà vu. The French team will face Portugal. Friday in the quarter-finals of the Euro. The opponent regularly faces in various European or international competitions. The last memorable encounter: the Euro 2016 final, won by the Seleção (1-0) after extra time. A memory that remains painful in the minds of fans, players and Didier Deschamps.
But given the history of the encounters between the two options, the balance clearly tips in favour of the Blues. In 28 matches, France won 19 times, there were three draws and six defeats.. Hope is enough for Friday's match despite the lackluster performance of the French team since the beginning of the tournament. A look at the most prominent matches between France and Portugal.
Most prominent confrontations
France and Portugal have met three times during the Euros. Each time, the match ended in extra time. Results: two wins, one defeat.
- Euro 1984: France 3–2 Portugal, semi-final
The first meeting in the European Championship was in the semi-finals in 1984. The Blues opened the scoring thanks to a goal by Jean-François Domergue (24), and Portugal equalized in the second half with a goal by Jordao (74). After the start of extra time, Jordao doubled the score (98). Fortunately, the French did not give up and came back thanks to Domergue (114). Platini ends the match in the 119th minute and the Blues qualify for the final. France then won their first European Championship by defeating Spain (2-0).
France, Euro 1984: Episode 4, France-Portugal (3-2) from the perspective of JF Domergue, interview with I FFF 2014
- Euro 2000: Portugal 1–2 France, semi-final
Sixteen years later, we take the same things and start again. The Blues, who had just been crowned world champions in 1998, faced Portugal in the semi-finals of Euro 2000. The Seleção opened the scoring with a goal from Nuno Gomes (19). In the second half, Thierry Henry returns to form (52). The two teams are unable to decide between them and extra time begins. Zinedine Zidane relieves an entire team by scoring a penalty in the 117th minute due to the hand of defender Abel Xavier. The golden goal rule is still in effect and Zizou qualifies France for the final. The Blues then beat Italy 2-1, after extra time, with a legendary goal from David Trezeguet in the 103rd minute. The French team wins their second Euro.
Olivier Morin
- 2006 World Cup: Portugal 0-1 France, Semi-final
France and Portugal meet again in a major tournament, this time in the World Cup. World stars on each side: Ronaldo, Figo, Deco, Pauleta for the Seleção, Zidane, Henry, Vieira and Ribery for the Blues. Against the dominant Portuguese, France managed to secure the match thanks to their legendary defensive solidity. In the 33rd minute, the referee awarded a foul on Thierry Henry inside the Portuguese penalty area. Zinedine Zidane converted the score (1-0) and the Blues managed to hold on to that score until the final whistle. France lost in the final on penalties to Italy.
Pascal Pavani
- Euro 2016: Portugal 1-0 France, Final
We will have to wait another sixteen years for another historic encounter between France and Portugal during the Euros. This time in the Euro 2016 final. Once again, the two teams will have to go to extra time to decide between them. The Blues started the match well but slowly faded as it progressed. At the end of regulation time (0-0), the Seleção regained their momentum and scored the only goal of the match (Eder, 109). Portugal win their first continental title.
Alan Grosclud
- Euro 2021: Portugal 2-2 France, third match of Group F
France and Portugal also faced each other in the group stage of Euro 2021. The two teams face each other in the last match of Group F. The Blues have already qualified, and the Portuguese must win. The Selecao and the Blues drew (2-2) with two penalties scored by Cristiano Ronaldo on one side, and two goals by Karim Benzema, one of them from the spot, on the other. France were eliminated from the tournament on penalties by Switzerland in the round of 16. The same goes for Portugal, who lost to Belgium (1-0).
