For a long period of time, the football match between Portugal and France has been one of the greatest matches in international football. These two European giants of football have encountered each other several times on the football pitch and created great moments, thrilling battles, and unforgettable history. This article narrates key encounters, tournaments, and unforgettable moments between Portugal National Football Team vs France National Football Team.
Portugal National Football Team vs France National Football Team Timeline: The 1970s and 1980s
June 23, 1978 – The First Major Clash between Portugal National Football Team vs France National Football Team
The first recorded important meeting between Portugal and France was in the friendly match on June 23, 1978, which France won 2-0. Seeded with this victory, France would proceed, time after time, to conquer every competitive match that pitted them against Portugal. This game would lay the bedrock of their rivalry, with its fervor starting to rise in the next decades.
1984 UEFA European Championship Semifinal
One of the most memorable and earliest meetings between both Portugal and France was during the 1984 UEFA European Championship semis in Marseille. This match determined a point in European football history, as France, playing on home turf, took to the pitch against a Portuguese outfit keen enough for international recognition.
- Score: 3-2 (AET) – France win
- Moments: The match went into extra time with both teams going into a 1-1 deadlock after normal time. Just when the game went in France’s favor after Portugal’s Jordão had put his team 2-1 ahead in the 98th minute of the game, it was French captain Michel Platini who scored the winner deep in the 119th minute to send the hosts into the final.
That match went into the memory as one of the classics that the semifinals of the European Championship have ever produced and sealed France’s superiority over Portugal in every major tournament.
1990s: France’s Continued Dominance
There were plenty more games between the two throughout the 1990s, with France continuing to establish their ascendency. Portugal churned out some great players in Rui Costa, Luis Figo, and João Pinto, but they have generally been outplayed by a French team led by such star turns as Zinedine Zidane, Laurent Blanc, and Didier Deschamps.
April 25, 1996 – Friendly Match
- Score: 3-2 – France win
- Moments: Portugal’s Luís Figo responded with Class goal, yet France’s forward line spearheaded by Zidane, was just too powerful. The game continued to raise animosities between teams in the build-up to future tournaments
2000 UEFA European Championship: A Heart-wrenching Defeat for Portugal National Football Team
June 28, 2000 – UEFA Euro 2000 Semifinal
Portugal against France in the semifinals of UEFA Euro 2000 were held in Belgium and the Netherlands. The match is widely remembered for its stunning conclusion and disputed penalty verdict.
- Score: 2-1 (AET) – France win
- News and Highlights: A incisive strike by Nuno Gomes in the 19th minute gave Portugal the lead in this match. Thierry Henry drew France level in the 51st minute of the match. Extra time decided the match after a controversial handball decision was given against Abel Xavier. Zinedine Zidane coolly slotted the resultant penalty to seal the final berth for France.
It was disappointing to the majority of Portuguese fans and only helped fan the flames of this growing rivalry between the two countries. It hurt more given that the penalty awarded was a controversial one.
UEFA Euro 2016: The Redemption of Portugal National Football Team
July 10, 2016 – UEFA Euro 2016 Final
The defining moment in the rivalry between Portugal and France came during the final of UEFA Euro 2016, hosted by France. History had been made because, for the first time, Portugal had made it to a major international tournament final, coming against hosts France at the Stade de France in Paris.
- Score: 1-0 (AET) – Portugal win
- Highlights: It was a well-contested final. First, a big blow was dealt to Portugal when their captain Cristiano Ronaldo had to be taken off the pitch in the 25th minute due to an injury. But even without their talisman, throughout the game, Portugal were resolute in defense.
In the 109 minute, substitute Éder scored with an outrageous long-range strike that made Portugal take the lead, instantaneously making him a national hero. The French, led visibly by the energetic Antoine Griezmann, tried to equalize but could not break the Portuguese back.
That 1-0 victory sealed Portugal’s first-ever major trophy and put icing on what was a sweet victory against a French team that had defeated them in previous tournaments. It was a turn of fortune against France, who had lorded over Portugal for the best part of many years and further asserted the strength of Portugal in international football.
Nations League Battles: New Era, Same Rivalry Between Portugal National Football Team vs France National Football Team
This old rivalry continued right through to modern times, as a new tournament called the UEFA Nations League was instituted to provide more compelling matchups between Europe’s finest.
October 11, 2020 – UEFA Nations League Group Stage
- Score: 0-0 – Draw
- Highlights: Even match as both teams managed to cancel each other out, with some good backline work. Both Portugal, captained by Cristiano Ronaldo, and France, spearheaded by Kylian Mbappé, did not break ties in a balanced group stage match.
November 14, 2020 – UEFA Nations League Group Stage
- Score: 1-0 – France win
- Highlights: N’Golo Kanté gave France victory in the second meeting in the 2020 UEFA Nations League. Another tactical affair it was, with both sides showing real defensive solidity. It means France qualified for the finals of the Nations League, leaving Portugal to once again ponder on another narrow defeat against their rivals.
FIFA World Cup 2022: Expected Clash
Coming into the 2022 FIFA World Cup, both Portugal and France were two of the favorites, and although that never materialized during the actual tournament, a tie between them had always hung in the air. Both nations boast teams full of world-class talent, as France was spearheaded by Kylian Mbappé and Karim Benzema, while Portugal boasts the legendary captain Cristiano Ronaldo and younger weapons like João Félix.
An opposition which always features as one of the most thrilling and spectacular matches between Portugal and France, every match taking place between them is just another page in the history books.
Conclusion
The head-to-head timeline between Portugal and France is full of drama, heartbreak, and redemption-from the early dominance of France to that historic win for Portugal in Euro 2016. Both teams find their way to create some of the most memorable matches in international football.
With both countries continuing to churn out a talent crop of top-tier talents, there are absolutely no signs that this rivalry between Portugal and France will depreciate anytime soon. The next chapter in the historic and thoroughly competitive rivalry continues to be well-awaited by football fans worldwide.
Also read: Portugal National Football Team vs France National Football Team Lineups