France Eliminates Belgium at Euro, Advances to Quarter-Finals Against Portugal

France eliminated Belgium 1-0 and qualified for the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 on Monday in Düsseldorf, Germany.

An own goal by Belgian defender Jan Vertonghen (85th), from a shot by Randal Kolo Muani, sealed the outcome of the match, where goal-scoring opportunities were few and far between.

France will face Portugal in the quarter-finals, who secured their place in the next round following a penalty shootout victory against Slovenia.

Despite Didier Deschamps’ change of system to a diamond midfield, with the return of Antoine Griezmann, a feeling of déjà vu has developed towards a France team that is solid at the back, but not very exciting up front and misses its few chances.

While the 22 players already seemed to be thinking about extra time, it was a pivot shot from Muani, deflected by JVertonghen, which deceived the defense and the Belgian goalkeeper Koen Casteels.

The Paris Saint-Germain striker, who had a complicated season and had just replaced an ineffective Marcus Thuram, once again proved his worth in blue. Kolo, it’s Koloexclaimed Didier Deschamps with a smile on TF1 after the match.

The Blues have not yet scored a goal in the game.

They benefit from a second against his team in the competition after the first match against Austria (1-0), a scenario which will not silence the critics on the offensive deficiencies of the team, which nevertheless has one of the best attackers in the world in Kylian Mbappé.

He had scored the only other goal on a penalty kick, against Poland (1-1). On Monday, he was willing, but still awkward in the penalty area, probably still not very comfortable with the mask that protects his fractured nose and impairs his vision.

The Belgians, for their part, often let France take control of the game, and their only real regret, apart from the goal conceded, was a too wise shot from their playmaker Kevin De Bruyne, alone at the edge of the area in the last quarter of an hour. Mike Maignan, still impeccable in his goal, was not fooled.

We played a great match against a good team, it was tight, even if we had a lot of possession and chances.reacted Didier Deschamps. We must not trivialize, we are in the quarterfinals.

The Red Devils, for their part, will not improve their relationship with their supporters, who had whistled them against Ukraine, after this poor performance. They have only scored two goals, against Romania (2-0), in this Euro 2024.

In the second match, Portugal are the clear favourites against Slovenia, who will play a knockout match in a major competition for the first time in their history.

She had been eliminated in the group stage in her previous appearances at the highest international level, the 2002 and 2010 World Cups and Euro 2000.

Portugal in the nick of time

Portugal snatched their qualification for the quarter-finals after securing a 0-0 (3-0 on penalties) victory against Slovenia in the evening in Frankfurt.

Goalkeeper Diogo Costa saved all three Slovenian penalties to allow his team to qualify and meet France on Friday in Hamburg.

Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty kick in extra time after a foul by Diogo Jota in the 103rd minute. Goalkeeper Jan Oblak dove from the left to push his shot onto the post. Ronaldo broke down in tears at half-time, then was comforted by his teammates.

He recovered, however, in the penalty shootout, where he hit the target to put Portugal 1-0 up after the first round. Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva then scored for the winning side to seal the outcome.

I was sad and now I’m overflowing with joy. That’s what can happen in soccer.Ronaldo commented.

“It’s probably the best match of my career,” Costa added. “I concentrated as much as possible, took good breaths and trusted my instincts.

On Tuesday, the last two clashes of the round of 16 will determine the last match in the quarter-finals, with Romania first against the Netherlands in Munich, then Austria against Turkey in Leipzig.