Portugal v France LIVE: Result and reaction as France end penalty shootout hoodoo

France edged out Belgium to advance to the Euro 2024 quarter-finals as Jan Vertonghen’s late own goal settled a tight affair in Dusseldorf.

With Belgium sat deep, France struggled mightily to create clear chances despite controlling the contest, flashing a series of finishes wide and high but never looking particularly likely to break through.

But they finally struck five minutes from time, Randal Kolo Muanireleasing a shot at the end of a fluent passing move that took a healthy piece of Vertonghen’s knee to beat Koen Casteels in the Belgian goal.

Despite a French player still being yet to score from open play in Germany, Didier Deschamps’ side move on, while Belgium bow out after another major tournament disappointment.

But how did each player perform? Here are The Independent’s player ratings:

The report from France’s last game...

Of course, it wasn’t pretty. Didier Deschamps won’t care. All that matters, the French coach would strenuously argue, is that they got there. That could be said about France’s winning goal and the very 1-0 last-16 winover Belgium it decided.

After 85 minutes of what had perhaps been the worst football in this tournament – outside, maybe, some of England’s games – substitute Randal Kolo Muani tried a speculative shot that was mishit off the ground and deflected off the unfortunate Jan Vertonghen and in.

The game maybe deserved that, but it’s arguable whether France did. An otherwise sensationally talented squad made their way into the quarter-finals by dour obduracy rather than any creativity or class. It may yet take them to ultimate victory, of course, but it doesn’t make much of it memorable. The most stirring moment of the game was a tackle by Theo Hernandez on Yannick Carrasco.

It could be quipped that the game against Belgium actually had to end for a French player to do anything impressive, but this is too serious an issue. What’s more, before Jules Kounde spoke in the impressive way he did, the defender had already won man of the match in his country’s 1-0 over Belgium.

He had been superb in play. He then surpassed it with his words. Kounde was asked about the first round of the French legislative election results, which look set to bring the far-right National Rally into political influence. The 25-year-old had already posted some of his thoughts on social media, which could have been an excuse to deflect questions and point to those. Kounde wasn’t going for any of that. He feels this is too important.

“I was disappointed to see the direction France is taking, with strong support for a party against our values. The far-right party, National Rally, who are against freedom and are against our co-existence. That is my political position.”

France captain Kylian Mbappe will wear a mask throughout the rest of Euro 2024 after breaking his nose during the team’s opening victory against Austria.

The superstar forward was left covered in blood after suffering the brutal injury when his face collided into the shoulder of Austria defender Kevin Danso, later leaving the stadium in an ambulance.

Subsequent tests confirmed Mbappe did not require immediate surgeryand he returned to training two days later while sporting a protective covering in the colours of the French flag, alleviating concerns that he would be ruled out of the tournament.

Europe’s best strikers are vying for individual honours as well as team success as they aim to top the scoring charts at Euro 2024.

Footballing greats such as Antonie Griezmann, Fernando Torres, Alan Shearer and Gerd Muller are among those who have won the prestigious prize throughout the history of the Euros and the likes of Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe, Jamal Musiala and Romelu Lukaku are hoping to join them this time around.

Some players have got off to a fast start but others have still got plenty of work to do in order to challenge at the top of the standings as we advance through the knockout stages.

Euro 2024 is heading to the quarter-finals after an entertaining start to the knockout rounds saw eight more nations exit the tournament.

Spain were the only team to collect the maximum nine points in the group phase and they continued their impressive form with a 4-1 win over Georgia. Switzerland and Germany both progressed to the quarter-finals with 2-0 wins, but it was much harder work for France, England and Portugal who respectively required a late own goal, a very late equaliser/extra-time winner and a penalty shootout to go through.

Here, we assess how every Euro 2024 nation stacks up before the quarter-finals (these rankings are revised after each round of games).

Michael Oliver will take charge of the quarter-final between Portugal and France at Euro 2024 tonight.

Oliver, aged 39, will lead a team that includes English officials Stuart Burt, Dan Cook and David Coote, as well as Polish official Szymon Marciniak, who refereed the 2023 Champions League final.

In 2010, Oliver became the youngest ever Premier League referee at the age of 25, and he is now among the country’s leading officials. He became a Fifa-listed referee in 2012, and has since officiated at Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup.

See below for the officiating team in full for Portugal v France:

Didier Deschamps is prepared to make history as the French manager and will be characteristically cautious and defensive with his set-up.

Portugal will need to be canny and utilise their pace in the wide areas and creativity through the middle if they hope to hurt their opponents.

In the end France will find a way through against Portugal though it will be a hard-fought win that is likely to go to extra time. Portugal 0-1 France (after extra-time).

Roberto Martinez might choose to make changes to his side after a tiring 120 minutes just four days before the match.

Adrien Rabiot is suspended after picking up a yellow card, and Antoine Griezmann appears set to continue in the starting line up, after playing against Belgium.

Predicted line ups

Portugal XI: Costa, Mendes, Pepe, Ruben Dias, Joao Cancelo, Palhinha, Vitinha, Rafael Leao, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Cristiano Ronaldo

France XI: Maignan, Hernandez, Saliba, Upamecano, Kounde, Rabiot, Tchouameni, Kante, Mbappe, Thuram, Griezmann

Portugal vs France will kick off at 8pm on Friday 5th July at the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg.

The match will be shown live on BBC One, with coverage due to start at 7.20pm BST. The game can also be streamed live via the BBC iPlay and BBC Sport app and website.

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