France vs Portugal Match Report

France vs Portugal Match Report

France:Mandanda, Sagna, Varane, Mangala, Evra, Cabaye, Pogba, Matuidi, Valbuena, Benzema, Griezmann

Subs: Lloris, Jallet, Mathieu, Cabella, Gignac, Payet, Digne, Sissoko, Remy, Yanga-Mbiwa, Schneiderlin, Costil

Portugal:Patricio, Eliseu, Alves, Pepe, Soares, Moutinho, Mendes, Gomes, Danny, Ronaldo, Nani

Subs: Lopes, Fonte, Ricardo Carvalho, Eder, Vieirinha, Antunes, Pinto, William Carvalho, Silva, Quaresma, Mario, Beto

France got their first win over Portugal since 1975 as Paul Pogba scored the winner in Stade De France as Portuguese continued their slump under new coach Oscar Tabarez.

France made raft of chances to their starting XI as they starts wee given to Mangala and Mandanda as Captain Hugo Lloris was rested. France made a bright start and they made it count as they went ahead within 3 minutes as Karim Benzema transferred his club form to national team. He was to first to react to the Bacary Sagna’s rebound.

Portugal were still clueless as they tried to make some inroads to get back on level terms. But French defense led by Raphael Varane stood firm.

The second half was more even than the first as the visitors got their act together. But France once again sneaked in a goal in their dominant spell as superb build up play involving Patrice Evra and Karim Benzema was capped by a cool Paul Pogba finish. The hosts took their feet of the gas as they were cruising to a comfortable win Portugal hardly posing any threat.

But a dubious penalty in 81st minute turned the tide for Seleccao as Ricardo Quaresma scored his first goal in almost 6 years. A late barrage of Portuguese attacks were kept at bay by the Les Blues as they managed to get crucial win in their preparation for home Euros in 2016.