France top group of death after 2-2 draw with Portugal

There was plenty of drama and action during the final matchday of the Group of Death with both games finishing in a 2-2 draw, sending France, Germany and Portugal through to the Round of 16.

In Budapest, the reigning world champions France took on Portugal in a repeat of the 2016 European Championship Final. After opting to use a midfield diamond in their first two matches, France changed their system for the third group game – reverting to the 4-2-3-1 formation they used on their way to victory in the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Mbappe was pushed to the left wing in this system and the PSG forward had the first chance of the game, firing a shot at Rui Patricio after running in behind Nelson Semedo down the left. However, it was Portugal who took the lead in this high-octane clash thanks to an emphatic penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo after Hugo Lloris clattered into Danilo Pereira during a free-kick.

France had a penalty of their own on the stroke of half-time after Kylian Mbappe collided with Nelson Semedo in the box. Karim Benzema nonchalantly converted the spot-kick to score his first goal for France since October 2015. The Real Madrid striker doubled his tally for Les Bleus shortly after the break, latching on to a sumptuous pass from Paul Pogba to give France the lead.

At this stage, Portugal were on the brink of elimination but there was more penalty drama left in the match as Cristiano Ronaldo’s cross was blocked by Jules Kounde’s outstretched arm inside the penalty area, which was needlessly placed above his head. Ronaldo dutifully converted his second spot-kick of the match to level the scores and equal Ali Daei’s record for the most goals in international football (109). 

Over in Munich, there were even more twists and turns in the game between Germany and Hungary. The Hungarians took a surprise lead inside 15 minutes through Adam Szalai’s bullet header which dropped Germany to the bottom of the group. Kai Havertz eventually scored for Germany in the 66th minute only for Hungary to retake the lead 90 seconds later from the restart.

With 7 minutes to go, the Germans were headed for their second successive group-stage exit from a major tournament until Leon Goreztka popped up in the box in the 84th minute to smash home the equaliser and lift Germany to second place.

Following this manic group of death, France take on Switzerland in the Round of 16 while Portugal face Belgium in Seville. Germany, on the other hand, having finished second in the group are on the other side of the draw and have the daunting prospect of facing England at Wembley in the Round of 16.