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HomeSportsPortugal and France draw thanks to braces from Cristiano Ronaldo and Benzema

Portugal and France draw thanks to braces from Cristiano Ronaldo and Benzema

Portugal and France played out an entertaining 2-2 draw on the final night of the Euro 2020 group stage, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema each bagging a brace. Both of Ronaldo‘s goals came from the spot, while Benzema netted one via a penalty and the other with a crisp finish that went in off the post.

The result means that France finish top of Group F and that Portugal are third, setting up a date with Switzerland for the French and a thrilling clash with Belgium for the Portuguese.

There were early chances for both sides in this one, one for Kylian Mbappe and another for Ronaldo at the other end. But, it was the awarding of a penalty for a Hugo Lloris hit on Danilo that got the scoring underway, with Ronaldo converting on the half hour mark.

France then won a penalty of their own in first half stoppage time, although this penalty award from Antonio Mateu Lahoz was a lot softer. Benzema didn’t mind, though, and finished to make it 1-1 at the break.

That was his first France goal in 2,085 days, before he then got his second just after half time by collecting a wonderful pass from Paul Pogba and finishing via the post.

The third penalty of the game allowed Portugal the chance to pull level and Ronaldo didn’t miss, scoring to pull level with Ali Daei as the all-time top international scorer on 109 goals.

Pogba shot that was tipped by Rui Patricio onto the post was the closest either side came to scoring a third, although France and Kingsley Coman had a good penalty shout at the end of the game that was actually a better case for a spot kick than the one they were given in the first half.

France finished top of the group regardless, while Portugal go through to the last 16 too.

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