There are many rivalries in football and for the most part the deep-seated hatred comes from history, politics or borders. Take England v Argentina for example, even Spain v Portugal. But Portugal v France is a little different. There’s no hatred, no border, no real politics, yet there is a rivalry and it’s one that produces some incredible match-ups.
That’s helped by the nations being two of Europe’s top teams, with world-class stars not just today, but historically too.
Phillip Martin, a football expert at SlotsJudge, has long been a fan of the rivalry between the sides, particularly in more recent years when both teams have enjoyed generational talents.
Martin takes a look into the two teams and their history, finding some of the top picks from previous matches and more.
The history of France against Portugal national team
As celebrebuzz notes, “Meetings between the two far pre-dates the arrival of online casinos in the two countries, despite having only played each other 29 times.”
The first meeting took place in 1926 in a friendly, with France enjoying a 4-2 win in Toulouse in front of 16,000 people. It didn’t take long for the Portuguese to hit back, though, beating the French 4-0 at the Estadio da Luz, with two goals each from Jose Maniel Soares Pepe and Jose Manuel Martins.
Friendlies have made up most of the meetings between the two, with many great performances from legendary names in that time, from Just Fontaine’s hat-trick in 1959 to beat a strong Portuguese outfit 5-3, to Michel Platini last-minute winners, extra time heroics from Eder and, most recently, tense penalty shootouts.
France vs Portugal: Head to Head
- Meetings: 29
- France wins: 20
- Portugal wins: 6
- Draws: 3
The two sides have met 29 times since 1926, but it wasn’t until 1984 that the pair met in a competitive fixture. A big one too – the European Championship Semi-Final. France had the home advantage and a real leader in captain Platini. The tournament was his finest period in the tricolour, and with the game finishing 1-1, he stepped up in extra time to secure a dramatic late win and put them into the final. Which they went on to win.
The nations have met twice more in major semi finals, with France winning both. It was Portugal who hit the jackpot in their most important game, though, back at Euro 2016 and the Final in Paris.
With talisman Cristiano Ronaldo exiting the stage after just 25 minutes due to injury, it was looking good for the hosts. But thanks to an inspired performance from Pepe and the rest of the Portugal back four, they saw out a 0-0 draw in normal time. As a nervous Ronaldo watched on from the touchline, Eder thrashed one from outside the box to take the lead and secure the nation’s first major honours.
On winning the competition, Ronaldo said: “I’ve won a lot of trophies in my career, Champions Leagues, national championships and cups in several countries, but Euro 2016 was the most important trophy that I’ve won. It was a fantastic night, with lots of emotions. Winning with Portugal has a special taste.”
It was the final piece of the puzzle for Ronaldo, who was at the top of his game at the time. The Real Madrid superstar had won everything, from individual and team trophies on the pitch to major advertising contracts off it.
The Euro 2016 victory showcased the appeal of his brand like never before. Many major brands began offering him lucrative contracts. He has dozens of contracts with some of the most famous brands. After that, the footballer became addicted to poker, and fans occasionally post photos of him at the table online.
Many of his fans often follow in his footsteps and look for reliable establishments, whether land-based or online. By the way, the online gambling industry is growing exponentially, with new casinos entering the market every day. To help you navigate the wide variety of online casinos Portugal, Slotsjudge reviews and recommends the most reliable companies every day.
Portugal vs France: The Greatest Football Games
23 June 1984: France 3-2 Portugal
Perhaps the classic. Going into extra time at 1-1, Portugal stunned the hosts to take the lead through Rui Jordao, before Jean-Francois Domergue levelled. With the game looking like it was heading to penalties, Michel Platini struck. These Football Times describe the moment:
“As if all the footballing gods had convened in the sky above Marseille and decreed that one man would define this tournament, Platini drove the ball high into the Portuguese net following a desperate scramble. Socks rolled down, shirt untucked, the Frenchman’s languid stride carried him to the French dugout where he collapsed under the weight of his teammates and a nation.”
10 July 2016: Portugal 1-0
While the 1984 Final was all about Platini, the Ballon d’Or holder at the time, 2016 was all about Ronaldo.
To this day, it’s Portugal’s finest moment in football, made all the greater because they lost their star man inside the first half an hour. On French soil, A Seleção das Quinas held strong, taking the game to extra time at 0-0 before Eder shrugged off several defenders to strike from range and deliver a historic trophy to his nation.
5 July 2006: France 1-0 Portugal
There are few players that can compete with Ronaldo, but Zinedine Zidane is certainly one of them. The great Frenchman was calling time on his career after the 2006 World Cup and we certainly know how it ended for the man who left the big stage with the almightiest of headbutts.
In the Semi-Final, however, against Portugal, he did everything right. Controlling the game and sinking a decisive penalty to make for a fairytale ending. Or so he thought.
A rivalry for the ages: What’s next for the fixture?
The rivalry between Portugal and France will never go away, not until the two nations stop producing unbelievable talent. The starting lineups today are as exciting as they were in the 60s with the likes of Eusebio, to the 1990s and 2000s, where Luis Figo, Thierry Henry, Rui Costa and Zinedine Zidane dominated.
It’s over to Kylian Mbappe, Bruno Fernandes and other exciting young talent like Diogo Costa, Joao Neves and Michael Olise to keep the rivalry alive.
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