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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:
Portugal v France LIVE
The teams are out of the tunnel and the national anthems are underway in Hamburg.
Just minutes until kick-off in the second quarter-final at Euro 2024.
You can find the reaction to the first quarter-final below, as the hosts have gone crashing out.
Chris Wilson5 July 2024 19:55
Form guide
The Selecao started the tournament in unconvincing fashion, squeezing past the Czech Republic 2-1 in their opener. They convincingly beat Turkey in their second game, before losing 2-0 to Georgia in their final game, having already qualified.
Their lasst-q6 game was a similarly torrid affair at times, with a 0-0 draw eventually being saved by Diogo Costa, who saved three penalties in a row to send his side through to the last eight.
Like Portugal, France have also been unconvincing at times. They beat Austria 1-0 thanks to an own goal, before drawing 0-0 to the Netherlands when they could well have lost.
In their last group game, they drew 1-1 to Poland thanks to an Mbappe penalty, before squeezing through past Belgium into the last eight thanks to a Jan Vertonghen own goal.
Chris Wilson5 July 2024 19:42
Portugal v France team news
A reminder of tonight’s team news – Portugal unchanged, while Camavinga and Kolo Muani come in for Les Bleus
Portugal XI: Costa; Cancelo, Dias, Pepe, Mendes; Vitinha, Palhinha; Bernardo, Fernandes, Leão; Ronaldo
France XI: Maignan; Koundé, Upamecano, Saliba, Hernández; Tchouaméni, Kanté, Camavinga; Griezmann; Kolo Muani, Mbappé
Luke Baker5 July 2024 19:38
Portugal v France TV channel, start time and how to watch Euro 2024 quarter final online tonight
Just under half an hour until kick-off, so here’s a reminder of how you can watch tonight’s game.
The game will kick off at 8pm at the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg.It will be shown live on BBC One, with coverage due to start at 7.20pm BST. The game can also be streamed live via the BBC iPlay and BBC Sport app and website.
If you’re travelling abroad and want to watch major sporting events, you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN round-up is here to help and includes deals on VPNs in the market. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are, and also with the terms of their service provider.
Chris Wilson5 July 2024 19:35
Head-to-head
Portugal and France have faced off a total of 28 times, with fixtures dating as far back as 1926. In fact, the two teams had met 16 times before their first competitive meeting – a 3-2 win for France at the semi-final stage of Euro 1984, with the winner coming courtesy of Michel Platini.
Their second competitive meeting came at the same stage of Euro 2000, and once again the French ran out as winners, this time due to a 117th-minute golden goal penalty from Zinedine Zidane.
The 2006 World Cup saw another semi-final meeting between these two sides, and once again France won – Zidane again, with another penalty to break Portuguese hearts.
Portugal were certainly due some revenge, and it eventually arrived at the final of Euro 2016, when a much-fancied France team lost 1-0 thanks to an extra-time winner from Eder.
If tonight’s game has anywhere near as much drama as their previous meetings, we’re in for a treat.
Chris Wilson5 July 2024 19:27
Cristiano Ronaldo opens up after hitting ‘rock bottom’ following penalty miss for Portugal
“Even the strongest people have their [bad] days. I was at rock bottom when the team needed me the most,” Ronaldo said afterwards, reported by the BBC.
Chris Wilson5 July 2024 19:20
Cristiano Ronaldo is out of control and exposes Roberto Martinez’s familiar mistake
Monday night in Frankfurt is when it hit home for Martinez. Bringing Ronaldo back in from the cold having been frozen out by predecessor Fernando Santos in Qatar for a comfortable, hassle-free Euro 2024qualification campaign, Ronaldo pulled the wool over everyone’s eyes in the opening two group stage matches.
Chris Wilson5 July 2024 19:15
Portugal v France team news
Taking a bit of a closer look at those team line-ups and Portugal have opted for an unchanged starting XI despite playing 120 minutes and a penalty shootout against Slovenia last time out.
Two changes for France, meanwhile. Eduardo Camavinga comes into midfield for the suspended Adrien Rabiot, while up top Randal Kolo Muani starts in place of Marcus Thuram.
Luke Baker5 July 2024 19:11
Portugal v France team news
Here are the line-ups for tonight’s quarter-final:
Portugal XI: Costa; Cancelo, Dias, Pepe, Mendes; Vitinha, Palhinha; Bernardo, Fernandes, Leão; Ronaldo
France XI: Maignan; Koundé, Upamecano, Saliba, Hernández; Tchouaméni, Kanté, Camavinga; Griezmann; Kolo Muani, Mbappé
Luke Baker5 July 2024 19:04