Preview: Portugal vs. France
Friday’s Euro 2024 quarter-final meeting between Portugal and France will feature an array of attacking talent, yet it’s uncertain whether this match will produce the front-foot football most fans want to see.
By Graham Ruthven
Both teams have struggled to find their best attacking form at Euro 2024 far. Indeed, while Portugal needed a penalty shootout to edge past Slovenia following a 0-0 draw, no French player has scored from open play in four matches.
It is therefore reasonable to expect a cagey, conservative encounter on Friday. Didier Deschamps will set up France’s midfield to be strong on the defensive side of the ball with N’Golo Kanté and Aurélien Tchouaméni predicted to start.
Adrien Rabiot is suspended for the quarter-final, meaning Deschamps could reshuffle his midfield unit to accommodate Antoine Griezmann in a deeper role similar to the one who thrived in during the 2022 World Cup. Alternatively, Edouardo Camavinga could be brought into the midfield.
Roberto Martínez will likely match up against the French midfield with a central trio of his own. João Palhinha has made the number six position in the Portugal lineup his own with Vitinha crucial to the way the Seleção drive through the lines in transition and Bruno Fernandes an all-round attacking threat in behind the centre forward.
Against Slovenia, Portugal were guilty of being overly accommodating to Cristiano Ronaldo. The 39-year-old was extremely wasteful in front of goal, even missing a penalty kick in extra time. Ronaldo could still be a key figure against France, but Martínez must implement a number of different attacking ideas to get the most out of his team.
Whether or not Kylian Mbappé is being restricted by the face mask he is currently having to wear after suffering a broken nose in France’s opening game win over Austria, he has yet to find his best form at Euro 2024. Portugal, however, could give Mbappé more space to attack in behind. This could be the moment he bursts into life.
An early goal for either team could open up the match as a contest and lead to a thrilling showcase of end-to-end, attacking football. There will certainly be enough attacking talent on the pitch for that to be the case. Barring that, though, Portugal and France are expected to be compact and conservative first and foremost. Deschamps-ball is rarely exciting and Martínez-ball isn’t much better.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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