Da Luz Stadium in Lisbon opened its doors for the Nations League match between Portugal and France. We got the player ratings.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal received a visit from the France National Team after the initial goalless draw in Paris. The UEFA Nations League gave us one of the most exciting matches of the weekend between two of the strongest national teams in the world. France didn’t have Kylian Mbappe due to a muscular injury he suffered recently. The Portugal squad had all the available players in good form for this match.
During the first half, there was clear dominance from the French side as their three midfielders took control of the game. Adrien Rabiot and Paul Pogba make a fantastic duo with Kante as the destroyer. Even though Portugal had some interesting chances in the first half, no side was able to score the initial goal. The big moment of the game came after the break.
Kante becomes France’s hero.
Early in the second half, N’Golo Kante was in the right place at the right time to tap the ball in the back of the net. France completed an impressive collective effort in which the Chelsea midfielder became the hero of the evening. Portugal attempted to get back in the game but the attacking players were erratic in front of Lloris.
The Tottenham Hotspur goalie saved the most important chance of the evening after a long distance effort from Moutinho. In the end, Ronaldo wasn’t able to overcome Kimpembe and Varane’s defensive prowess. This leaves Portugal trailing France with 10 points inside Group 3 of the Nations League A. Up next, Portugal will visit Croatia and Sweden visits the French squad.
Player ratings
Portugal: Patricio (6), Fonte (7), Cancelo (6), Guerreiro (5), Dias (5), Pereira (4), Carvalho (5), Bruno (6), Silva (5), Ronaldo (7), Felix (6).
Bench: Trincao (6), Jota (6), Moutinho (7), Oliveira (5), Paulinho (5).
France: Lloris (9), Varane (8), Kimpembe (8), Pavard (8), Hernandez (7), Pogba (8), Kante (9), Rabiot (8), Griezmann (7), Martial (6), Coman (6).
Bench: Giroud (6), Thuram (7).
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