On July 10th, 2016, Portugal or France will be the new champions of Europe. France would be celebrating a third title if they win. Portugal would be celebrating their first.
They’ve both been strong sides in European football. In terms of silverware, France has found more success in major international football tournaments.
France has been involved in more European Championships than Portugal. Their first involvement in the competition was in 1960, twenty-four years before Portugal’s first European Championship. The year Portugal debuted in the Euro was the year France won their first title in the tournament.
France won another title in 2000, while Portugal finished as a semifinalist in that same year.
Portugal has never been eliminated in before the quarter-final in any Euro they were involved. They’ve been semi-finalist on three occasions, and runners-up on one occasion.
Portugal’s best opportunity to win the European Championship was in 2004 when they played as the host nation.They finished with silver medals, as Greece was able to beat them in the final. It is the only major football tournament Portugal has hosted. It was also the first time Portugal made it to the final of a major football tournament.
|
Year |
France | Portugal |
| 1960 | Semi-final | |
| 1984 | Winners | Semi-final |
| 1992 | Group Stage | |
| 1996 | Semi-final | Quarterfinal |
| 2000 | Winners | Semi-final |
| 2004 | Quarterfinal | Runners-Up |
| 2008 | Group Stage | Quarter final |
| 2012 | Quarterfinal | Semi-final |
| 2016 | TBD |
TBD |
