France vs Portugal: Three previous meetings between the Euro 2016 finalists

Sport360 staff 14:35 10/07/2016
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  • France have gotten the better of Portugal in the past

    France and Portugal battle it out in the Euro 2016 final in Paris, on Sunday.

    The two sides have had some closely contested encounters at the business end of major international tournaments before as well with the French coming out on top.

    Here, we look at three previous meetings between France and Portugal.

    FRANCE 1-0 PORTUGAL: WORLD CUP 2006, SEMI-FINAL

    Munich was the stage for a game lacking quality, which was decided via a Zinedine Zidane penalty in the 33rd minute. Ricardo Carvalho was penalised for tripping Thierry Henry (above) in the box and Zidane made no mistake from the spot.

    There was no rousing comeback from the Portuguese, who came closest through Luis Figo and Deco, with the former heading over after Fabian Barthez had pushed a Cristiano Ronaldo free-kick straight back into play.

    France held on to win a forgettable match but this time they could not follow up victory over Portugal with success in the final as Italy would gain revenge from their final defeat six years earlier, beating Les Bleus in a penalty shootout.

    FRANCE 2-1 PORTUGAL: EURO 2000, SEMI-FINAL

    Nuno Gomes had scored a stunning volley to put A Selecao in front, only for Henry’s deflected effort to draw France level early in the second half. Henry would come close to finding a winner, as would Portugal’s Abel Xavier, but the game was taken into extra-time.

    Controversy followed as Xavier blocked a Sylvain Wiltord cross, with the assistant referee flagging to signify he had given a penalty for handball against the Everton man. Gomes was sent off for his protestations, with bans dished out to the striker, as well as Xavier and Paulo Bento, following a fracas after the decision – although Zidane kept his cool to slot home the spot-kick and send France to the final, where they beat Italy 2-1.

    FRANCE 3-2 PORTUGAL: EURO 1984, SEMI-FINAL

    The Stade Velodrome in Marseille was the venue for a most memorable semi-final meeting – with the hosts eventually running out winners thanks to captain Michel Platini.

    The France skipper played a part in Jean-Francois Domergue’s opener and was involved in a personal battle with Portugal goalkeeper Bento.

    Jordao equalised for Portugal to take the game into extra-time and the Sporting forward would give the outsiders the edge by adding his second after 98 minutes. But, with just six minutes of extra-time remaining, Domergue levelled and Platini scored a memorable winner in the dying stages before leading France to victory over Spain in the final.

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