Here is Andy Hunter’s match report.
So France finish top of the toughest group in the tournament. But their performances so far suggest they are far from unbeatable. They have been lethargic and disjointed for many spells in their three games, and Deschamps’ conservatism seems to have constricted them at times. What is more, they lost both their left-backs - Hernandez and Digne - to injury today so will need to come up with a plan to cover that loss going forward.
Full-time: Portugal 2-2 France
A topsy-turvy game ends with a result that suits both teams. France finish top of Group F and will face Switzerland in the Last 16. Portugal go through as one of the best third-place teams (and face Belgium, I think), while second spot in the group goes to Germany, who will face England next.
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90+4 min: The game in Munich is over. Germany 2-2 Hungary. That means France and Portugal have no incentive to do anything to change things here.
90+3 min: No penalty!
90+2 min: Coman tries to zoom past Fernandes in the box. He goes down under a scruffy challenge. That looked more like a penalty that the one given against Semedo in the first half! The ref doesn’t give it but a VAR check is in progress.
90 min: France stroke the ball around at the back. Portugal don’t bother interrupting. There will be at least another five minutes. Time for one more twist, even if neither team seems too pushed?
88 min: The pace has dropped. Either the teams are knackered or they’re satisfied with how the group is looking, irrespective of what happens in Germany.
87 min: Oliveira on, Sanches off after an excellent performance.
86 min: Coman back in action at the other end, laying the ball back from the byline to Griezmann at the edge of the area. Griezmann tonks it high and wide. And that’s his last contribution before being replaced by Sissoko.
84 min: Fernandes battles with three Frenchman wide on the right and comes out on top! Then he shifts the ball on to Ronaldo at the edge of the area. but Coman, who has mad such a difference to France’s attack, shows his defensive worth by rushing in to nick the ball off Ronaldo.
83 min: Kimpembe booked for charging into a tackle on Ronaldo from behind.
83 min: Goal in Munich! It’s Germany 2-2 Hungary. That puts Germany into second place in the group - and on course for Wembley - while Portugal are in third.
81 min: Sanches barrels his way towards the French box, but Kanté, who initially seemed beaten, keeps at him and eventually pinches the ball, just before Sanches could get off a shot. Both those players have been terrific today.
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79 min: Portugal substitution: Manchester United forgotten man Diogo Dalot on, Semedo off.
77 min: Semedo is down hurt. He seems to have pulled something. Pepe has signalled to the bench that a change needs to be made. Meanwhile, Dias and Ronaldo are in very animated discussions about something or other.
75 min: France have perked up a lot since Coman’s introduction. Much more movement and speed. But Semedo does well to block a long-range shot from Griezmann.
73 min: Portugal substitutions: Fernandes and Neves on, Moutinho and Silva off.
72 min: Palinha looks up and sees Jota appealing for a cross on the left. He ignores him and has a pop himself from 25 yards. It sails way over.
70 min: France attack down the right, where Coman has made a big difference and is being ably supported by Koundé. But when the ball comes to Benzema at the left-hand corner of the Portuguese box, he wafts a gentle shot into the keeper’s arms.
68 min: Rabiot eschews a shot from 20 yards, rolling it instead to Pogba, who feints to shoot and then dodges past Palinha and unleashes a magnificent shot from 25 yards. Patricio produces a wonderful one-handed save, sweeping the ball onto the post and out! Then he leaps to his feet to turn away Griezmann’s follow-up! He’s had an iffy season for Wolves but that was brilliant from Patricio!
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67 min: France have made a change as they try to invigorate their attack: Coman is on, replacing Tolisso.
65 min: Germany have equalised against Hungary. And while I was writing that, Hungary have scored again and now lead 2-1!
63 min: Bernardo Silva balloons the freekick into the stands when he had a whole platoon of teammates waiting for a neat delivery in the box. That was bizarrely bad.
62 min: The early indications after the introduction of Rabiot were, in fact, misleading. The way it looks now, Koundé is still at right-back and Rabiot is trying his luck at left-back, where he has just given away a freekick.
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61 min: Want a Group F Table update? As things stands, it’s 1. France 2. Portugal 3. Hungary 4. Germany
GOAL! Portugal 2-2 France (Ronaldo pen 60)
He draws his country level while equalling the all-time international scoring record!
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Penalty to Portugal!
Koundé inadvertently blocks a Ronaldo cross from the byline with his arm! He was very close to the ball but his arms were flapping in front of him. I think this will stand even after the VAR review!
57 min: Jota has been very quiet so far. Maybe the change of left-backs will help him find a way into the game? “The Digne for Hernandez change at half-time was not just a ‘positive change’ it was injury enforced according to Deschamps on French TV at half-time,” says Robert Lin. “France have just lost their two left-backs.” Maybe Aymeric Laporte could fill in there. Oh, wait.
55 min: Portugal look crestfallen. They need to find a second wind or they’ll be left relying on Germany to come back against Hungary. “Though there aren’t many players of the calibre of France and Germany in the Premier League, these last two games clearly showed weakness in Ruben Dias game, “ ventures Yash Gupta. “A lack of pace more visible in short runs, can be easily dragged out of position just like in Champions League Final and faulty offside trap. He was outstanding last season but he would not find it easy this time around.”
53 min: France has rejigged their defence to cope with Digne’s departure. Kounde has shifted from right-back to the left, Tolisso has gone to right-back and Rabiot is in his natural midfield habitat.k
51 min: Here’s a problem for France. Digne has just pulled up lame and indicated that he can’t continue. He seems to have pulled a muscle in his thigh. That’s a real pity for the Everton man, who had a chance to stake his claim for the first-choice let-back spot. Now his tournament could be over. Off he limps, replaced by Rabiot.
49 min: Guerreiro clips a lovely cross from the left. Ronaldo springs high but heads wide from six yards.
GOAL! Portugal 1-2 France (Benzema 48)
Pogba released Benzema with a masterful pass from deep. The striker finishes first-time, firing in low off the far post from eight yards. The flag goes up for offside, but a VAR review confirms that Benzema had timed his run to perfection. France are in front! Portugal are in trouble. They’re bottom of the group as things stand!
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46 min: What’s this? A positive change from Deschamps: He’s replaced Hernandez with Digne for the second half. Meanwhile, Portugal are introducing Palinha for Danilo, possibly because the latter has not fully recovered from being clobbered by Lloris.
“I was going to send you a dramatic email about how France have been terrible, deserves to lose and are going out to England in the round of 16 given how we’re playing against another defensive minded team,” writes Alexandre Chesneau. “But VAR somehow confirms what seems, at best, a very light penalty, and we get an equaliser no one had seen coming. I think I was too pessimistic - it seems our best player - Deschamps’ luck - is still here and in great form. Hopefully he wins us this tournament. Well, I hope as a neutral you enjoy this match more than me.” The thing is, Alexandre, France are not enjoyable to watch. It’s outrageous, really, how Deschamps can make a squad with such creative talent so dull. Well done on winning the World Cup and all, but France are boring.
“Whatever about Portugal’s penalty, the decision to give France one was ridiculous, especially with VAR in operation,” storms Samuel Campbell, and many, many others, all of whom are right.
“I disagree with your justification of the Portugal penalty [“That wasn’t his intention but no outfield player would get away with it”] ,” snorts Sam Hankins. “That doesn’t quite take into account that no outfield player is entitled to use their hands. It’s kinda the only advantage a keeper has.” There are not different rules for different limbs: a keeper has to be as careful with his arms as an outfield player must be with his legs.
Half-time: Portugal 1-1 France
France have been lethargic and predictable but they go into the break level thanks to a silly penalty, well converted by Benzema. That cancelled out the one that Ronaldo scored for Portugal after recklessness by Lloris. As things stand, France are top of Group F and Portugal are second - and headed for a date with England. But there’s surely plenty more drama to come in the second half ...
GOAL! Portugal 1-1 France (Benzema pen 45+3)
France had missed six of their last 11 penalties ... but not this one. Benzema, who had one saved by Danny Ward in the build-up to this tournament, sends Patricio the wrong way.
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45+2 min: Portugal players are protesting. The ref points at his headset to indicate that the Var people are studying the evidence.
Penalty to France!
Mbappé went down in the vicinity of Semedo as he tried to reach a pass from Pogba. It’s bad decision, in my book, as the fullback was guilty not nothing more serious than not getting out of the way of Mbappé as he ran with him, and Mbappé wasn’t going to get the ball either.
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44 min: Lloris is not called into action because Moutinho fails to get the freekick beyond the wall.
43 min: Ronaldo sells Kimpembe a few lollipops and then gets a boot in return. Freekick to Portugal wide on the right. Careful how you come for this one, Hugo!
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42 min: Moutinho slashes wide from 20 yards. There’s a lot of discussion in my inbox about the penalty decision. Some say it was absurd, others back the ref. No one actually asked my opinion but I’m going to give it anyway: awarding the penalty was right, because goalkeeping recklessness should be punished more often. Lloris jumped at his opponents fist-first and caught him in the head. That wasn’t his intention but no outfield player would get away with it.
39 min: Griezmann booked for bumping late into Danilo. That’s three yellows already for France, and that reflects the fact that Portugal have been sharper than them all over the pitch.
39 min: Varane goes long for Benzema, who can’t get the ball under control before being outmuscled by Pepe.
38 min: Varane curls a cross from deep beyond the back post. Griezmann tries to hook it back into the danger zone. Instead he donks it into the stands.
37 min: Hernandez booked for tripping Bernardo, who’s definitely got the better of him so far.
35 min: France’s response to falling behind has been curiously close to a shoulder shrug. They’re not exactly fired up.
33 min: Correction: apparently Pogba was not booked for protesting about the penalty; rather, Lloris was given the card. “If you were to pick one contemporary footballer who most resembles an assassin, surely it would be Pepe?” suggests Niall O’Keefe. “He scares me even though he is thousands of miles away from me.” I disagree. Pepe is too obvious. You’d want an assassin to be discreet, unremarkable, the last person you’d suspect. You know, like what’s his name.
32 min: Now then, if the scores in Group F stay the same, Portugal will top the group, and France will face England in the last 16.
GOAL! Portugal 1-0 France (Ronaldo pen 31)
Never in doubt. Ronaldo hammers the spotkick into the net as Lloris falls the wrong way.
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29 min: The replay shows that Danilo got to the ball first and headed it on to Lloris’ arm, which then clattered the midfielder in the face. The penalty stands!
29 min: While Danilo receives treatment for a sore head, boffins consult VAR to see whether the penalty stands....
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Penalty to Portugal!
Moutinho curled the freekick into the box. Lloris came to try to punch it clear but he misses it and catches Danilo in the face instead! Pogba gets a yellow card for protesting against the decision to award a penalty
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26 min: The impressive Sanches dodges Mbappé in midfield before being caught by Kanté, earning Portugal a freekick about 35 yards out.
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25 min: That last entry seems to have provoked a lull.
22 min: This is getting spicy. The intensity is rising, the passing is getting faster, and both teams are moving with a speed and craftiness that is really testing the concentration of the opponent.
20 min: Pepe sends a hopeful lofted pass into the box from half way. Varane leaps to meet it but isn’t aware of what - or who - is around him. He ends up heading the ball down to Ronaldo, who tries to lash a volley into the net from 20 yards. But he miscues and shanks it wide.
19 min: Semedo starts to threaten down the right, forcing Mbappé to go backwards. He flashes in a low cross that Kimpembe clears at the near post.
17 min: Pogba slides a low pass from midfield through to Mbappé, who again drew it by making a burst from the left. He runs on to the ball and hits it first time from the edge of the box, trying to curl it around Patricio. But the keeper is ready for it and bats it away to safety.
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16 min: Moutinho slices open the French defence with a canny pass through to Bernardo Silva, whose cross from the right floats over the head of Ronaldo.
15 min: France have taken a measure of control, without looking dangerous.
13 min: Waves of joy sweep around the ground in Budapest as news comes through that ... Hungary have taken the lead over Germany in this group’s other game. If that scoreline stays the same, everyone in Budapest will be happy, not least these two teams.
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11 min: Pogba receives the ball in midfield and Mbappé immediately makes a run from the left towards the centre, inviting the pass. Pogba spots it and tries to deliver, but it’s just too long.
9 min: Griezmann hurtles back and mows down Jota with an excellent sliding tackle. He wins the ball and the ref waves play on. Chapeau all round.
8 min: Portugal are hogging the ball. France aren’t pressing high, just keeping their shape and looking for opportunities to counter. That’s derring-do, Didier Deschamps-style.
6 min: Jota chases down the ball on the left wing, then feeds it back to the ubiquitous Sanches, who clips a dainty cross into the centre. Ronaldo leaps highest - as ever - and flicks a header towards goals from the penalty spot. But it’s another comfortable save for Lloris.
4 min: Sanches has been bright so far, showing why the manager drafted him into the starting lineup after two good appearances off the bench. He’s even had the first shot of the match, albeit a bobbly one from long range that posed no problem to Lloris.
2 min: After all the French defenfers get a touch, Pogba decides to get things moving forward by aiming a long pass into the right-hand channel. Kounde’s run prompted that and he collects the ball and fires over a cross from near the corner flag. Pepe heads clear.
1 min: Portugal v France is go! Benzema does the kickoff...
The teams strides out on to the field in Budapest. Portugal are in their customary red shirts and green shorts. France are in all white.
“Mention of Anthony Martial reminds me of the times I am typing martial arts and end up misspelling as marital arts,” chortles Andrew Benton. Both those arts can be precious for self-defence. And since we’re mentioning spelling mistakes, let me curse the keyboard designer who decided to put ‘i’ right beside ‘o’, an arrangement that really challenges minute-by-minute scribes trying not to alarm anyone when describing shots being fired in from over 20 yards.
It will be interesting to see Jules Koundé at right-back today. Although he played most of the season for Sevilla in central defence, he did very well on the right on his first senior cap just before the tournament and has the potential to offer more going forward than Pavard. On the left, though, it’s disappointing that Deschamps has brought Hernandez back; Lucas Digne is a much more exciting option thanks to his exquisite crossing.
The 4-2-3-1 system that Deschamps is using today is inspired partly by the system he used when France last faced Portugal. That was in the Nations League last November and France won 1-0 - and they had Anthony Martial and Kingsley Coman in attack that day, rather than Benzema and Mbappé.
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And now this from the country that gave us football teams such as Haka, Oulu and that old Fiver favourite, FC Honka “Here in Finland there is great interest in this match because if France beat Portugal by four goals, then the Eagle-Owls get through to the last 16,” reports Kári Tulinius. “Admittedly, that is unlikely, but thanks to the ludicrous 24-team format, Finland has a tiny amount of hope. A tiny amount of hope can’t kill you, right?” I don’t know, for I am hopeless.
As has been mentioned one or a million ties in the buildup to this game, Cristiano Ronaldo is just two goals shy of Ali Daei’s international scoring record. Ronaldo has netted 107 in 177 games for his country. Not too shabby. Wonder how many goals Just Fontaine would have scored for France if injury had not curtailed his career (and if countries had played as frequently as they do these days): he struck 30 goals in 21 matches for Les Bleus, including five hat-tricks - one of them coming in a well remembered 5-3 win over Portugal in 1959. Although if we’re going to go retro, we must also tip our hats to the wonderful France-Portugal encounter of 1984, when Michel Platini was king ...
Teams:
Santos has moved decisively to address the shortcomings that Portugal showed in midfield in their opening games, with Fernandes and Carvahlo replaced by Moutinho and Sanches. That should make Portugal more coherent and creative. Meanwhile, France have made three personnel changes - changing both their full-backs and replacing Rabiot with Tolisso in midfield. They also look set to make a slight adjustment to their formation, switching from a midfield diamond to 4-2-3-1 in an effort to get their high-grade frontline firing. That means that Portugal’s right-back, Semedo - who was overrun against Germany - will find himself having to try to keep tabs on Mbappé. Bon courage!
Portugal: Patricio; Semedo, Pepe, Dias, Guerreiro; Moutinho, Danilo, Sanches; Silva, Ronaldo, Jota
Subs: Lopes, Palhinha, Oliveira, Felix, R Silva, Dalot, Neves, Fernandes, A Silva, Fonte
France: Lloris; Koundé, Varane, Kimpembe, Hernandez; Kanté, Pogba; Tolisso, Griezmann, Mbappe; Benzema
Subs: Mandanda, Maignan, Lenglet, Pavard, Digne, Sissoko, Coman, Rabiot, Zouma, Ben Yeddder, Giroud, Lemar
Referee: A Lahoz (Spain)
Preamble
Hello. It’s only a showdown between the world champions and the European champions, with qualification for the Last 16 on the line. France are already through – they just need to find out in which position – but Portugal are living on the edge, still capable of winning the group or being ousted from the tournament. Fernando Santos has copped plenty of flak for the way Portugal have performed so far – like a strangely fractured side with no serious midfield – and if he doesn’t find a way for his team to get at least a point today, then his team could be on their way home - although only if they get beaten by at least four goals, meaning Finland would replace them as one of the best third-placed teams, or if Hungary beat Germany.
France haven’t quite clicked yet either and Didier Deschamps is expected to make changes as he tries to finetune his formula and ensure Les Bleus justify their labels as tournament favourites. There would be no better way to prove they are growing into the tournament than by beating the team who spoiled their party at Euro 2016. That victory in the final was the only time Portugal have beaten France in 13 meetings since 1976: now would be a good time to repeat the trick. And then the countries could meet again in this year’s final. They may have to beat England to get there: because whoever finishes second in Group F will face Gareth Southgate’s team at Wembley in the Last 16. Intrigue? You bet. Thrills? Hope so. Kickoff? Coming soon. Brace yourselves, this could be epic!
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