This archive report was first published on 23 June 2021.
Published on June 23, 2021, the UEFA EURO 2020 tournament has reached a crucial stage, with Portugal facing France in a highly anticipated rematch of the 2016 final.
Portugal's loss to Germany on Saturday has put them in a precarious position, but they still have control over their own fate. A draw against France would be enough to secure their spot in the knockout stage, with Cristiano Ronaldo leading the charge.
France, on the other hand, has secured their spot in the round of 16 and is looking to restore momentum after their draw with Hungary. Didier Deschamps, France's coach, emphasized the importance of getting the best result possible, saying, "There's no extra urge with the possibility of knocking out Portugal. Our ambition is to get the best result possible that will have an impact on the standings and, incidentally, on our opponents. We're guaranteed to be in the round of 16 and that gives us a certain calmness that is not in competition with our ambition."
Antoine Griezmann, France's striker, added, "The match is like a final, but I think we have to treat it like the two matches we've already played. We know we have to get a result to progress; a win would be best. We know it's going to be a tough game, but I think we're ready. We'll have to equip well and see tactically how we can make it as challenging as possible for them. The stadium will be full again and I'm happy to be able to play with that atmosphere."
