Portugal +122 vs. France -150 (Fri. July 5 – 3:00 p.m. ET)
Portugal and France come into this game with many questions. Portugal needed all 120 minutes, plus penalties, to beat Slovenia, while France narrowly beat Belgium and still has not scored from open play.
For Portugal, the Cristiano Ronaldo question looms large. Ronaldo had chances in open play, from free kicks to the spot. None were converted, and the quality diminished as time went on. Ronaldo has not been detrimental to his team yet. They were on top for the first 60 minutes and looked like they would stroll to victory. However, when all the positivity and chances started to dry up, it was hard not to think Goncalo Ramos couldn’t make a difference.
France is suffering from a similar issue. They have also created chances but seemingly have no end product. Their midfield has controlled games, and the defense has been imperious, with Saliba in particular shining. They just can’t seem to strike the killing blows. Dropping Dembele helped a little, but Didier Deschamps's tactics and setup seem to drain some of the spark from his players. With Rabiot suspended for the next match, there is a chance to see Camavinga, who could inject a lot into this side with his skills.
Neither team is where they want to be; after Friday, one will return home. Ronaldo is motivated, and the Portugal squad is deep and driven. France, on the other hand, looks tired. Masked Mbappe hasn’t found a groove, and Deschamps has fallen out with some of his squad.
Portugal 2 - France 1
