Already the first team to concede two own goals in a single Euro finals game, travel-worn Portugal risk being the first defending European champions eliminated at the group stage since Greece (in 2008) if they lose this one.
Portugal
After winning their Euro 2020 opener here at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest, Portugal lost 4-2 to Germany in a torrid display at the Allianz Arena in Munich. Already the first team to concede two own goals in a single Euro finals game, travel-worn Portugal risk being the first defending European champions eliminated at the group stage since Greece (in 2008) if they lose this one. Moreover, because of Portugal’s defensive mishaps, by the end of matchday, two Euro 2020 had accounted for five (35.71 per cent) of the 14 total Euro finals OGs ever scored! However, the Portuguese are still respected, averaging 1.2 goals per game after the 75th minute across their last five matches and being unbeaten in five’ matchday three’ fixtures across major tournaments.
France
Conversely, 2018 FIFA World Cup winners France are winless in six ‘matchday three’ fixtures at tournament finals, the last three of which finished 0-0. Yet, history still favours France, as they’ve finished in a group’s top-two five times across their previous six Euros and stand unbeaten in 11 WC/Euro group games. Moreover, this will be the first Euro finals meeting between the incumbent world and European champions since 1992 – the latter prevailed 3-1 back then (HT: 2-0). However, none of France’s last six H2Hs vs Portugal have seen more than a one-goal margin, while they have neither scored nor conceded a first-half goal across their last four clashes vs the ‘Selecao’.
Five (26.32 per cent) of Cristiano Ronaldo’s 19 goals for Portugal at major finals have come on ‘matchday three’ – he stands two international goals shy of the all-time international goalscoring record, held by Iran’s Ali Daei (109). Opposing forward Antoine Griezmann can also make an historic impact, as one goal would put him joint-third with Thierry Henry (12) for France goals at major tournaments.
Five (55.56 per cent) of France’s last nine WC/Euro group game wins have stood 0-0 at HT.