Portugal vs France Matchday Stats Preview
This will be the fifth meeting between Portugal and France at the UEFA European Championship, with Portugal unbeaten in the last two (1-0 in the 2016 final, 2-2 in the 2020 group stage). France won the first two such meetings, going on to lift the trophy both times (3-2 in 1984, 2-1 in 2000).
France have only lost one of their last 14 games against Portugal (W11 D2), although that lone defeat came in the EURO 2016 final at the Stade de France (0-1).
This will be Portugal’s seventh appearance in the quarter-final of the UEFA European Championship, the most of any side since the round was introduced in 1996. They’ve progressed from four of their previous six, failing against Czechia in 1996 and Germany in 2008.
France are looking to reach the semi-finals for the fourth time in the last five major tournaments, doing so at EURO 2016, and the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups. All four teams to eliminate Les Bleus at the quarter final stage of a major tournament has gone on to win the trophy (Italy 1938 World Cup, Greece EURO 2004, Spain EURO 2012 and Germany 2014 World Cup).
France players have failed to score a single goal from open play in their last five matches, with their three goals at EURO 2024 so far coming as two own goals and a penalty from Kylian Mbappé. Not since a run of five internationals between March and September 2013 have France seen their players fail to score from open play in as many matches.
Despite winning their group and now reaching the quarter-final, Portugal have failed to score in their last two matches at EURO 2024. They’ve never failed to score in three consecutive games at a single major tournament before (World Cup/EUROs).
France have an expected goals against tally of just 2.63 at EURO 2024 – the lowest of any side in the quarter-final, and second lowest at the tournament overall after Serbia (2.57).
Having scored 10 goals in nine major tournament games between 2018 and 2022, Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo has now failed to score in any of his last eight appearances at the World Cup/EUROs. His saved penalty in the round of 16 against Slovenia saw him become the first player to miss multiple penalties at the UEFA European Championship (excluding shootouts), also failing against Austria in 2016.
William Saliba has completed 96.6% of his passes so far at EURO 2024 (256/265), the best passing accuracy ever recorded (min. 100 passes) by a France player at a major tournament (since 1966 for World Cup, and 1980 for EUROs).
France midfielder N’Golo Kanté has played more major tournament games (World Cup/EUROs) without ever ending on the losing side than any other European player (19 – W13 D6). He’s also created more chances from his line breaking passes than any other France player so far at EURO 2024 (3).
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