The ‘Group of Death’ at Euro 2020 concludes on Wednesday evening and it does so with the current European champions Portugal taking on the reigning world champions France in Budapest in the final match for both in Group F.
France know they are already through whatever happens here and a win would see them win the group. Portugal need to avoid a tonking to move into the knockout stage while a win could see them win the group.
Where to watch
The match will be shown live and in full on the BBC1 channel with the build-up to the match beginning at 7.30pm and the game itself kicking off at 8pm.
Portugal
It looked like Portugal were manoeuvring themselves into a position whereby they were ready to launch a serious tilt at their title. Admittedly they left it late to beat Hungary but they finally got the win that they deserved, only to completely fall apart against Germany in their second game where they were a defensive mess. That has left them in a precarious position here knowing they need something from the match to guarantee progressing to the knockout stage.
Portugal showed in both of their matches that they have more than enough about them going forward to be a major threat in this tournament but that defensive performance against Germany has opened up plenty of doubts. This match will give us the chance to see whether that was a one-off or whether there is a problem there because that department of their side is sure to be in for a tough ride over these 90 minutes.
France
Like one or two of the other fancied runners for this tournament, France have been efficient so far without really dazzling. They should have wiped the floor with Germany in their opening match but in the end only won courtesy of a goal which the Germans scored for them. They then disappointed against Hungary, again in a match they should have won, but this time could only draw. Their fate is still in their own hands though and whatever happens here they will be playing knockout football next week.
France look solid enough defensively but haven’t quite delivered what is expected of them in attacking areas. You wonder if Didier Deschamps has too many options in the attacking end of the pitch and it is creating issues. If that is the case he needs to find the best combination during this match as he will want to go into the knockout stages knowing his best side. They haven’t done it yet but a win here could put a real marker down for their title credentials.
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Team News
Portugal are said to be monitoring the fitness of Joao Felix and Nuno Mendes ahead of this match. Renato Sanches has impressed off the bench in both matches so there could be a longer role in the game for him while Joao Moutinho is another who could come in.
France have suffered a blow with Ousmane Dembele having been ruled out of the remainder of the tournament with the knee injury that he picked up against Hungary. Lucas Hernandez is likely to be available after injury.
Betting
I’m hoping that Portugal get what they require out of this match because they are my outright pick for the tournament but I’m not really massively enthused about getting involved in the game I have to admit. France haven’t really shown their hand and are already into the knockout stage and that Portuguese defensive display last time out was enough to leave me very concerned over them. I will look to take advantage of that defensive issue with a small bet though.
We are still waiting for Kylian Mbappe to really announce himself at this tournament but it might be about to happen because Nelson Semedo in the right-back berth for Portugal looks way out of his depth. Germany peppered him throughout the match on Saturday while Hungary had a bit of joy down that side against him as well but didn’t have the quality to capitalise on him. Unless Portugal change to give Semedo some help down that side Mbappe could be feasting on him all night long. He is that good that he doesn’t need to come up against a weakness in an opposition but this one is so glaringly obvious that Mbappe to score anytime makes a lot of sense.
Tips
Back K.Mbappe to score anytime for a 2/10 stake at 3.10 with Coral
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