Under-21 Group C: Portugal vs France facts

Group C of the UEFA European Under-21 Championship kicks off with a rare contest between Portugal and France at the Sihoť Stadium in Trenčín.

The teams have not met for 14 years, since when Portugal have twice been runners-up. Their 2023 campaign ended in the quarter-finals, when France also exited for the second successive tournament.

Poland and Georgia complete the Group C line-up.

Previous European U21 Championship meetings

Matches 3
Portugal wins 1
France wins 2
Draws 0
Portugal goals 3
France goals 4

This is the teams' first competitive fixture since their only previous final tournament meeting, an own goal from Portugal goalkeeper Bruno Vale giving France a 1-0 win against the hosts in Braga on Matchday 1 of the 2006 edition.

Their only other European U21 Championship fixtures came in the play-offs for the 2004 finals. France came from behind to win 2-1 in the first leg in Guimarães, Djibril Cissé scoring twice after Jorge Ribeiro's early opener for the home side, but Portugal turned the tables in Clermont-Ferrand, Cristiano Ronaldo opening the scoring and, after Cissé had levelled on the night, Bruno Alves earning a 2-1 win. Portugal then prevailed 4-1 on penalties, Hélder Postiga converting their second kick and Ronaldo their fourth; Philippe Mexès and Patrice Evra both failed from the spot for France.

The last three matches between the teams have all been friendlies, most recently a 1-0 Portugal win in September 2011.

Portugal's overall record against France is W3 D3 L5.

Dario Essugo and Warren Zaïre-Emery exchanged goals in a 2-2 draw between Portugal and France in the 2022 UEFA European Under-17 Championship semi-finals, France ultimately prevailing on penalties.

Form guide

Portugal

This is Portugal's 11th appearance in the U21 final tournament; they were runners-up in 1994 to Italy, 2015 to Sweden and 2021 to Germany. They were also third in 2004.

Portugal have now qualified for five of the last six tournaments, reaching two finals in that time – all under long-serving coach Rui Jorge, who was also a runner-up as a player in 1994.

Runners-up to co-hosts Georgia in Group A at the 2023 finals, Portugal were subsequently beaten 1-0 by eventual champions England in the quarter-finals.

In charge since 2010, Rui Jorge oversaw a near faultless qualifying campaign for the 2025 finals, his team winning nine of their ten Group G games (L1) and scoring 33 goals on their way to finishing five points clear of runners-up Croatia.

A late withdrawal for the finals through injury, Fábio Silva was the top scorer in the qualifying group stage with eight goals and is within one of the career record of 15 U21 EURO goals (including qualifying) jointly held by Lampros Choutos (Greece), Tomáš Pekhart (Czechia) and George Puşcaş (Romania).

France

Champions in 1988 with a squad including Laurent Blanc, Eric Cantona, Franck Sauzée and Jocelyn Angloma, this is France's eighth appearance in the final tournament and fourth in a row.

Having missed out for six successive tournaments from 2007 onwards, France got to the semi-finals on their return in 2019 and the quarter-finals two years later. France have qualified five times since a group stage was introduced in 2000, and have reached the knockout rounds on each occasion.

In 2023, a team coached by Sylvain Ripoll finished first in Group D, winning all three games, scoring seven goals and conceding two, before losing 3-1 to Ukraine in the last eight.

France kicked off qualifying for the 2025 finals under Thierry Henry, Gérald Baticle taking over in August 2024.

Les Bleuets were second to Slovenia in qualifying Group H (W5 D1 L2), progressing as one of the three best runners-up.

Arnaud Kalimuendo was France's top scorer in qualifying with four goals.

Links and trivia

Have played together:
Flávio Nazinho & Félix Lemaréchal (Cercle Brugge 2023/24)

Has played in France:
Matias De Amorim (Bordeaux 2020–24)

Rui Jorge was an extra-time substitute in Portugal's 2-1 defeat by France in the UEFA EURO 2000 semi-finals.