EURO 2024: Portugal Vs Prancis, Mbappe’s Deep Respect for Ronaldo

As a great admirer of Cristiano Ronaldo, French national team captain Kylian Mbappe holds immense respect for his idol.
A rematch of the Euro 2016 final will take place as Portugal and France meet in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals.

This elite European duel is scheduled to take place at the Volksparkstadion on Friday, July 5, 2024, or Saturday at 2:00 AM WIB. This meeting between Portugal and France also marks yet another clash between Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappe.

Once again, Kylian Mbappe will face his idol on the field in an official tournament. Ronaldo and Mbappe will battle it out for their respective national teams’ place in the Euro 2024 semi-finals.

The Portuguese captain has been a focal point recently. Interestingly, Ronaldo has yet to score a single goal up to the quarter-finals.

He had a golden opportunity in the Round of 16 match against Slovenia. However, his penalty in extra time was saved by Jan Oblak.

Despite this, fortune favored him as his penalty in the shootout successfully contributed to Portugal’s progression to the quarter-finals. Mbappe, as the captain of France, acknowledged that he feels honored to face Ronaldo this time.

In his words, regardless of whether Ronaldo scores or fails to lead Selecao das Quinas to victory, Ronaldo remains a legend.
“It’s an honor to face Cristiano,” said Mbappe, quoted by wasit.id from Diario AS.

“Everyone knows how much I admire him.” “I had the chance to talk with him.” “We keep in touch regularly, and he provides me with a lot of advice.”

“Playing against him is an honor.” “No matter what he has done in football, no matter what happens next, he will always be a legend,” he stated.

Furthermore, the new Real Madrid forward said Ronaldo deserves to be appreciated and respected for inspiring many generations.

However, Mbappe emphasized that his respect for the 39-year-old forward remains. In the upcoming match, France is expected to advance to the semi-finals.

“You have to appreciate what he has done and who he is,” Mbappe continued. “I only admire the greatness of the player. A unique player.” “There will never be anyone like him.

His impact on football history is lasting and has inspired many generations. “It made a lasting impact on so many people. Mbappe concluded, ‘I respect him, but as I’ve said, I hope he isn’t satisfied because we aim to reach the semi-finals.'”

EURO 2024: Generational Battle – Portugal vs France Not Just About Ronaldo and Mbappe

The Portugal vs France match in Euro 2024 is seen as more than just a clash between Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappe, players from different generations.

The captains’ duel is not the only highlight of the Portugal vs France match in Euro 2024. The two teams will meet in the quarter-finals on Saturday, July 6, 2024, at 2:00 AM WIB.

The status of Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappe as captains will surely draw extra attention. Moreover, Kylian Mbappe has long idolized Cristiano Ronaldo.

This match is considered to potentially signify a direct generational shift. Ronaldo has hinted that Euro 2024 might be his last tournament.

Meanwhile, Mbappe is just starting his first tournament as the captain of the French national team. However, Bernardo Silva, who has played with both players, dismisses this notion.

“They are currently in different phases of their careers,” said Bernardo Silva, as reported by wasit.id from ESPN. “The most important thing is not about them, but about Portugal and France as a whole,” Silva added.

According to the Manchester City midfielder, Ronaldo no longer needs to prove himself. Ronaldo is acknowledged as one of the greatest footballers in history. Mbappe’s situation is different as he is still in the middle of his career.

The Euro 2024 trophy could be an early proof of Mbappe’s leadership. Silva certainly won’t let that happen in this latest edition of the Euros. He acknowledges Mbappe’s exceptional playing quality.

However, Silva hopes that Mbappe’s performance will dip when facing Portugal. Defeating France would ease Portugal’s path to the finals. Currently, both teams boast top talents in every position.

To beat France, Portugal must play at their highest level. Portugal is expected to have learned from their match against Slovenia in the next round to perform better.

Four Special Records for France After Reaching the Euro 2024 Semi-Finals

The French team successfully advanced to the semi-finals of the European Championship 2024 by defeating Portugal. Les Bleus made several noteworthy achievements following this match.

France faced A Selecao das Quinas at the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg on Saturday, July 6, 2024, early in the morning WIB. In this encounter, the Roosters faced stiff resistance from Portugal.

France recorded 40.1% possession compared to Portugal’s 59.9%. Despite having less ball possession, Les Bleus managed to take 20 shots, five of which were on target.

Portugal, on the other hand, had four good chances out of 15 opportunities. Unfortunately, neither team managed to score a goal.

The score remained 0-0 until the match reached the 120th minute. The winner was determined by a penalty shootout.

Eliminating Portugal
In the penalty shootout, France defeated Portugal with a score of 5-3. All five of Les Bleus’ penalty takers, Ousmane Dembele, Youssouf Fofana, Jules Kounde, Bradley Barcola, and Theo Hernandez, successfully converted their kicks.

From Portugal’s four penalty takers, only Cristiano Ronaldo, Bernardo Silva, and Nuno Mendes scored. Joao Felix’s shot hit the crossbar.

Thanks to this victory, France advanced to the Euro 2024 semi-finals and will face Spain at the Allianz Arena on July 10. Here are some special records France set after this match:

No Goals from Open Play
France reached the Euro 2024 semi-finals without scoring a goal from open play. From the group stage to the quarter-finals, Les Bleus have scored three goals in five matches.