Key events
19 minutes: Kolo Muani and Koundé combine to attack Rafael Leão, who is wandering down the left side. But they still can’t stop Leão from winning a corner. Koundé heads the free-kick away. The Portuguese have played well in the last few minutes.
17 minutes: …but Portugal come back, Bruno Fernandes unleashes a low shot that is deflected to the right for a corner. The whistle sounds on the free kick, because of an overly exuberant push from Ronaldo. And there is the pressure!
15 min: Maignan stumbles on a back pass and sends the ball out for a corner. He is lucky that Bruno Fernandes does not pass well and the keeper claims to have easily rectified his mistake.
14 minutes: But Cruyff’s turn didn’t lead to much either, but some things are more valuable than goals.
12 min: A scandalous feat on the left touchline, as Rafael Leão makes a small bridge with Koundé a back heelsending Nuno Mendes into acres of space. Unfortunately, the cross that followed was a nightmare. It’s a real shame it didn’t result in anything tangible for Portugal.
11 minutes: …and he sends another poor, flat shot that is easily cleared. “Thank goodness the game is now on and I have 45 minutes of freedom from Fox TV’s occasional insane contributions,” sighs Eric Peterson. “Based on their pre-match analysis, if you can even call it that, the next two hours should simply be about Mbappé and Ronaldo playing tennis at Wimbledon, as far as we can tell. Apparently, the other 20 players and concepts like strategy and tactics are supposed to be beyond the grasp of the American public. It’s so infuriating to see Fox (and ESPN, equally guilty) once again patronizing its soccer audience.”
You will appreciate this.
10 minutes: Bruno Fernandes takes it. His flat pass is not particularly good, but Koundé shoots for a corner. Fernandes will also take this free kick…
9 minutes: It’s Arsenal versus Manchester United on the Portuguese left flank, and Saliba sends Bruno Fernandes to the ground. A chance for Portugal to fill the box.
8 minutes: Leão sends Nuno Mendes into space on an overflow on the left side. Mendes crosses but Koundé clears.
6 minutes: Portugal enjoys sustained possession for the first time. Both teams try to feel the ground, nothing more.
4 minutes: Rafael Leão faces Upamecano on the left flank. He gets ahead of his opponent and then cuts inside to leave him lying. The ball in the infield is not good, but it is a positive sign for Portugal. Could Leão have the number of the big defender?
3 minutes: Bruno Fernandes is the first Portuguese player to make an assist when he tries to launch Rafael Leão on the left side with a long diagonal. Upamecano intercepts the ball and France resumes its run.
2 minutes : France take the lead early in the match. Hernandez probes the left side, Kanté the right. Kolo Muani finds space on the right of the area but finds no one with his low pass.
Coaches Roberto Martinez and Didier Deschamps embrace warmly, captains Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappé exchange their pennants, Mbappé puts on his mask… and France opens the ball. And here we go! Spain is waiting for you!
The teams are out! Portugal in red jersey and green pants, France in second-choice white top and blue pants. A rare atmosphere at the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg. We will leave once the coins have been tossed and fists have been struck.
The national anthems. Rendered in cutting-edge 16-bit…
…and 8-bit technology.
Spain have just eliminated hosts Germany to reach the semi-finals. The winners of this match will be expected on Tuesday evening in Munich. Barry Glendenning gives us the details of a match that ended in an extremely dramatic manner.
While we’re on a retrospective board, here’s what happened last time to both teams at Euro 2024. (It still technically counts as retro, but not that retro.)
Portugal and France have met twice before at the Euro. Here’s what happened the last time they faced off…
…and here is the time before that, the climax of the Portuguese football teamThe story of.
These classic semi-final confrontations. Lovingly presented for your retro pleasure.
Both teams that have made it this far seem unwilling to make radical changes to a winning formula. Portugal have chosen the same starting XI that started the 0-0 draw with Slovenia and won the penalty shootout against them. France made two changes after their 1-0 win over Belgium, with Eduardo Camavinga and Randal Kolo Muani replacing the benched Marcus Thuram and the suspended Adrien Rabiot.
The teams
Portugal: Costa, Joao Cancelo, Dias, Pepe, Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, Joao Palhinha, Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Leao, Ronaldo.
Substitutes: Rui Patricio, Nelson Semedo, Dalot, Goncalo Ramos, João Félix, José Sa, Danilo Pereira, Inacio, João Neves, Matheus Luiz, Ruben Neves, Jota, Silva, Pedro Neto, Francisco Conceicao.
France: Maignan, Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Hernandez, Kante, Tchouameni, Camavinga, Griezmann, Mbappé, Muani.
Substitutes: Samba, Pavard, Mendy, Giroud, Dembélé, Zaire Emery, Fofana, Coman, Clauss, Areola, Konaté, Barcola, Thuram.
Arbitrator: Michael Oliver (England).
Preamble
These two need to step up their game. After their disappointing performances in the round of 16, which were nothing like the spectacle offered by Spain, Germany, Austria and Turkey, Portugal and France owe us one thing. Another one of those exhilarating back-and-forths, please, like those of the 1984 and 2000 semi-finals, and we will forget the games between Slovenia and Belgium. Kick-off will be at 8pm BST. It’s on the move!
