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France – Portugal was tied to a symbolism that was indescribable, despite the efforts of the coaches of the two teams to solve the knot: this match would never be just another Nations League match, but one of the champions, among the champions. . of the world and of Europe in exercise, precisely the land where four years ago the second had defeated the first, at home, to conquer the Old Continent.
On the French side, Lloris (the captain) and Deschamps (the coach) were quick to come up with strong words, like reckoning or revenge, but the idea was there. On the Portuguese side, the historical celebrations of Paris were remembered on that magical night of 2016, and the pragmatic Fernando Santos praised the “most powerful” rival, demanding “a high level” from his players, nostalgia germinated.
But in these things, as in so many others, memory matters and that is why France came to respect Portugal and Portugal without fearing France; After 2016, everything changed for the better for the “quinas”.
Let’s see: the Portuguese team almost completely controlled the French in the first half at the Stade de France, something probably unthinkable years ago. With a reinforced midfield with Danilo, William and Bruno Fernandes, with Bernardo Silva and João Félix on the wings and Ronaldo in front, although this design was very malleable, Portugal proved to be sure, preventing the ball from reaching Mbappé. or Griezmann in dangerous places.
The roads were effectively blocked, with constant changes of position that required good articulations that have been prolonged in time; and in construction, the team was not particularly obsessed with finding Cristiano Ronaldo, opting for a patient ball circulation in search of spaces to enter the French defense.
What did not happen long is true, zero shots on goal, although he picked up relatively dangerous shots, and that was the Portuguese’s sin, since there were times when it seemed possible to risk more in the face of the French’s strange apathy. This did not happen. With daring and creative players like João Félix, Portugal would have done more if they wanted to, and Fernando Santos complained about that at the end: when asked if he liked the game, he more or less answered.
I’m sure you liked the first part less and the second part less. Because France raised the lines, squeezed William Carvalho and Bruno Fernandes and Portugal could no longer play in both midfields and was limited to their own. While he could. In those moments, Pepe, a unique competitive animal, and also Rui Patrício, who defended with his left glove a padded Mbappé, after overtaking Danilo at full speed.
On the other hand, Griezmann released the markings and tried to go deep to the anemic Giroud who was rarely seen on the field since the moment Rúben Dias opened his head with an elbow in the first minutes.
The game was later broken by fatigue and the consequent deconcentration, inevitable in such a context, and the scene got out of control: there were dangerous plays on both sides, first by the French and then by the Portuguese. Pepe’s goal offside (73 ‘) was disallowed and Ronaldo shot for a competent defense of Lloris (90’), with Trincão, Jota, Moutinho, Cancelo and Renato Sanches on the field.
Regardless, it ended as it started, zero to zero, and Portugal maintains the leadership of Group 3 with the same points (seven) as France, but with the goal difference in its favor. “Actually,” blatantly stealing a linguistic tic from Fernando Santos could be much worse. And then there is Sweden, whom a confident and determined captain has indulged in scoring goals.
