Euro 2024’s second quarter-final is another blockbuster tie which pits 2018 World Cup winners France against 2016 European Champions Portugal.
Didier Deschamps’ men have managed to reach the last-eight without scoring a goal from open play. Two own goals and a Kylian Mbappe penalty have been enough to get them through testing matches against Austria, the Netherlands, Poland and Belgium. Their narrow win over Belgium in the last-16 lacked quality and excitement though the French will take heart from several missed opportunities and the fact Mbappe is due to rediscover his form since sustaining a broken nose.
In comparison, Portugal needed to come through a penalty shootout to defeat Slovenia in the round of 16. Roberto Martinez’s team struggled to create openings in their first knockout match with Cristiano Ronaldo in particular squandering good opportunities, including missing a penalty in extra-time.
The match will be a battle of generations with Mbappe taking on Ronaldo yet both sides will know improvements are needed if they hope to get the job done tonight.
Follow all the action from Portugal v France with our live blog below:
Euro 2024: Portugal 0-0 France
Another good save! The ball comes to Leao on the right and instead of taking Kounde on, he slips a concealed pass square to the onrushing Vitinha. The PSG midfielder can only blast his shot against the chest of Maignan, and it also goes in off Upamecano from the rebound, but Portugal get the corner.
Chris Wilson5 July 2024 21:21
Euro 2024: Portugal 0-0 France
Vitinha tries to clip the ball in to Fernandes, but Maignan collects, before Vitinha wins a quick foul.
Portugal have possession again, and Cancelo plays the pass with the outside of his foot into the path of the overlapping Fernandes. He’s unmarked in the box and fires his shot on target, but Maignan does well to get low and parry it.
Moments later, Cancelo curls a shot narrowly wide from inside the box.
Chris Wilson5 July 2024 21:18
Euro 2024: Portugal 0-0 France
The second half has started exactly how the first half did. Little urgency so far, with the front men too isolated on both sides.
France are happy to sit back and absorb the Portuguese pressure, and they almost pay the price as Leao drives into the box past Kounde, but Camavinga does so well to dive in and divert the ball in for a corner.
Chris Wilson5 July 2024 21:16
Euro 2024: Portugal 0-0 France
Play resumes and it looks like Mbappe is okay. Portugal are on the edge of the French box again, but Leao’s cross in is wayward.
Chris Wilson5 July 2024 21:14
Euro 2024: Portugal 0-0 France
Ronaldo comes wide and this time he wins a corner. Fernandes swings it in, but France clear and Griezmann charges forward before being dispossessed. Mbappe is down on the other side of the pitch, so there’s a break in play. Looks like a blow to the face again for the Frenchman.
Chris Wilson5 July 2024 21:11
Euro 2024: Portugal 0-0 France
CLOSE! Brilliant from France as Kante threads a ball through past Cancelo and into the path of Hernandez, but his ball across goal is too far away from Kolo Muani.
Chris Wilson5 July 2024 21:09
Euro 2024: Portugal 0-0 France
Oh that was close! Mendes gets past the first challenge from Kounde and surges into the box, and he pokes it past Upamecano before going down. But it was a blatant dive, and he’s lucky to escape without a card.
Ronaldo draws an ‘oooh’ after a nice touch past Camavinga and Fernandes goes long to Leao, but it was wild.
Chris Wilson5 July 2024 21:08
Euro 2024: Portugal 0-0 France
Cancelo does well again to slide in and dispossess Hernandez, but he gives it away. Luckily Palhinha is there to clear up.
France come again, led once more by Camavinga, and Mbappe rifles a shot from distance straight at Costa.
Chris Wilson5 July 2024 21:06
Euro 2024: Portugal 0-0 France
Vitinha sweeps it wide to Cancelo, but Portugal are forced to recycle possession back to Pepe. Silva scoops in a cross, but Hernandez chests it back to Maignan.
Ronaldo beginning to look a little frustrated out there – the crossing has been subpar so far.
Chris Wilson5 July 2024 21:04
KICK-OFF! Portugal 0-0 France
Back underway in Hamburg. Who’ll take their chance to make the semi-finals?
Portugal have beaten France in just one of their last 14 meetings –but it was the final of Euro 2016.
Chris Wilson5 July 2024 21:02