Portugal vs France Head-to-Head stats and numbers you need to know before Match 46 of UEFA Euro 2024
Two European powerhouses clash in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Euro 2024 as Portugal take on France at the Volksparkstadion on Friday. Les Bleus suffered a 1-0 loss against Roberto Martinez’s men in the 2016 final and will head into this weekend’s clash seeking revenge.
Portugal survived a major upset in the round of 16 on Monday as they needed penalties to see off a resilient Slovenia side at the Deutsche Bank Park after a pulsating goalless draw in normal time.
With Cristiano Ronaldo failing to convert his 105th-minute penalty, Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa took matters into his own hands as he saved three consecutive penalties in the shootout to keep the Selecao’s title quest alive and spare Ronaldo’s blushes.
This was a second straight unconvincing display from Martinez’s men, who secured back-to-back wins over Czech Republic and Turkey in their opening two games in Group F before a shock 2-0 loss to newcomers Georgia on June 26.
Despite failing to impose themselves in Germany, two-time Euro winners France have made it through to the quarter-finals, going one step further than their last-16 exit in 2021.
None of Les Bleus' three goals so far have come from open play, with Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe scoring from the spot in the 1-1 draw against Poland in the group stages and their other two goals coming courtesy of own goals.
Indeed Didier Deschamps’ side had Jan Vertonghen to thank on Monday as the former Tottenham Hotspur defender inadvertently turned the ball into his net to hand France a nervy 1-0 victory over Belgium in their last-16 clash.
While France have struggled to click in attack, they will take pride in the solid job done at the defensive end of the pitch, where they have kept three clean sheets in their four Euro matches so far.
Portugal vs France Head-to-Head stats
France boast a superior record in the history of this fixture, having won 19 of the last 28 meetings between the two nations. Portugal have picked up six wins in that time, while the spoils have been shared on three occasions.
This will be the fifth European Championship meeting between the two nations, with France claiming two wins in their previous four encounters since 1984.
Portugal have picked up one win, which came in the 2016 final, when they beat Deschamps’ men 1-0 in Paris, while the spoils have been shared once.
Portugal Form Guide: W-L-W-W-W
France Form Guide: W-D-D-W-D
Portugal vs France: Numbers you need to know before their UEFA Euro 2024 encounter
France are unbeaten in their last three games against Portugal across all competitions, claiming one win and two draws since their 2016 Euro final defeat.
Their most recent meeting came in the group stages of Euro 2020, when they played out a thrilling 2-2 draw at the Puskás Aréna.
In that encounter, Ronaldo and former Real Madrid strike partner Karim Benzema both scored twice in a nail-biting individual face-off to force a share of the spoils.
Portugal have won all but one of their last 14 competitive matches, with a shock 2-0 loss against Georgia in the Group F finale on June 26 being the exception.
France boast the best defensive record in this year's European Championship, having kept three clean sheets in their four matches.
France are unbeaten in each of their last 12 competitive matches, claiming nine wins and three draws since their penalty-shootout loss against Argentina in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Ronaldo, who had a night to forget against Slovenia, is yet to open his account in Euro 2024, despite having the highest number of shots (20).