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Before the start of the third round, the third group of UEFA Nations League Division A had the most pronounced leading duo of all the quartets. The teams of France and Portugal managed to obtain two victories over Sweden and Croatia in the two opening matches, which automatically divided the classification of this group into two parts: hopefuls to reach the playoffs and relegation, respectively. On the “Stade-de-France” field in the Paris suburb – Saint-Denis, the fate of the first intermediate line was decided in the battle between the leaders.
It was in this field that the Ukrainian team had suffered a major setback a few days earlier. Didier Deschamps’ coaching staff checked the availability of the closest substitute in the match with Andriy Shevchenko’s team, but it was obvious that the strongest representatives of the current squad Les Bleus would play against the European Selesao from the first minutes.
On the eve of the informative match, the sparring team of Fernando Santos was the rival of the Ukraine team in the League of Nations group – Spain (0: 0), so we can assume that Cristiano Ronaldo and company approached the important match of his group in full readiness for combat. Portugal lost only once in 2 years, in Kiev (1: 2), while their rivals lost twice in the same period: Turkey and the Netherlands (0: 2). An impressive series, nothing to add, but there was a great risk that one of them would be interrupted in the briefing.
You can expect anything in the game between the current world and European champion, but not a boring first half! France and Portugal entered the game in their most forceful compositions for this call, however, due to the dangerous situations created before the break, only Giroud’s head cut rested after the fight in midfield. Few scoring chances, many minor fouls: such a game was difficult to digest even for the crowd gathered in the stands, so the home team was escorted to the stands with the national anthem.
How else, if the only dangerous moment in the middle was created by the opponents? Felix himself unsuccessfully completed a free kick from the right flank in the knockdown, and did not let the ball pass to Danilo Perreira and Cristiano Ronaldo, who were in the best position. All hopes were directed towards the second half of the match. By the way, the game was central during the entire third round of the Nations League.
And apparently the Frenchman started the second half with a daring attempt by Mbappé to complete his solo pass over the goalkeeper on the left flank of someone else’s penalty area. Patricio saved his own goal. An exacerbation was expected from the guests’ side, however an instant counterattack attempt ended with a missed shot from Ronaldo to the side of the door. And that’s it. Until detention time, spectators in the stands and on television screens sat with rations of starvation. However, for the sake of the explosive four minutes, one could hold on. Sanches and Cristiano were unable to break Lloris with blows from mid-range, after which Martial responded with a miss from far over the goal. He exhaled! And ended this rather boring match of the last two international forum champions.
The second round of the French team will begin an away game against Croatia, while Portugal will face Sweden at home.
UEFA Nations League. Group stage. League A. Group 3. 3rd round.
France – Portugal – 0: 0
Diaz, 1
France: Lloris – Hernández, Kimpembe, Varane, Pavar – Pogba, Kante, Rabio – Grizmann – Giroud (Martial, 74), Mbappé (Coman, 83).
Portugal: Patricio – Guerreiro (Cancello, 89), Pepe, Diaz, Semedo – Carvalho (Moutinho, 89), Fernandes (Sunsch, 79), Danilo – B. Silva (Jota, 61), Felix (Trincan, 89), Ronaldo.
Referee: Carlos Del Cerro Grande (Madrid, Spain).
Stadium: Stade-de-France (Saint-Denis, France).
Shots (on target): 9 (3) – 8 (1)
Corner: 1 – 4
Offside: 2-2.
FRANCE-PORTUGAL. ONLINE DIFFUSION OF THE MATCH
Temperature: 11 ° C
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