Portugal vs France Match Preview | EURO 2021

Portugal vs France
Puskás Aréna – Budapest, Hungary – June 23rd

The final game for these two in Group F offers champion vs champion. It’s the current European Champions Portugal, to take on reigning World Champions France in what is sure to be a game that excites every fan of football. It’s Ronaldo vs Mbappe as the old and the young go head-to-head in this highly contested game that either side will have the potential to win and top Group F with.

Portugal’s squad has dramatically improved since they picked up this trophy in 2016. They’ve matured as a team, and no longer only rely on Cristiano Ronaldo. They have game changers among their squad now. Players that can produce a bit of magic if one or two players are having an off night, and each and every position on the pitch has great cover on the bench. It’s a tough ask to retain a European Championship, and Group F hasn’t made life any easier for Portugal to do so, but they will fancy they can go all the way again and the mentality to win that Ronaldo and co. have could take them to another level. France is a huge task for the Portugese, and defensively they could struggle against the pace and ability that France can counter with. Ruben Dias has already shown the leadership he has since his move to Man City, and he will be crucial in games like this along with the fullbacks who will no doubt have the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Antony Martial running at them and looking to exploit the space in behind. Portugal have some pacey fullbacks that could contend with balls in behind, but France have footballers with the ability to out play you. Portugal could make it scrappy, and they might have to, to deal with the French’s attacking quality.

France are likely one of the favourites to win the entire competition and with good reason. World Cup champions in 2018, they’ve looked comfortable since then with the odd off night and poor result. This is where the big players tend to step up though, when it gets to tournaments like this, and France are one of those teams that won’t shy away. Paul Pogba looks to be an entirely different player when he puts on the French kit, and the same could be said for Antoine Griezzman, as both players seem to show their true class when they play for their International team. Defensively is where they’re likely to struggle, as goalkeeper Hugo Lloris hasn’t performed the best for Spurs during the 2020/21 season, while the fullbacks aren’t the quickest for France and could be an area that Portugal exploit. It’ll be interesting to see who Deschamps goes with in the heart of defence, but going forward there’s no doubt that Mbappe will be the first player on the team sheet and the one that is likely to produce the goods for France. The young striker/winger can play in an array of positions and when he has other world class players around him, it’s hard to look past France reaching the latter stages of this competition if not winning the entire thing. Portugal could cause a huge threat going forward themselves, and defensively, France will have to focus on a number of key players rather than only Ronaldo. If France are allowed to play and Portugal presses up high, space will be there for the attack of this team that has the talent to hurt you on multiple occasions.