Once again, we refresh on the permutations for the acclaimed group of death, Group F.
- France will go through if they avoid defeat against Portugal or if the other game is drawn. They will finish first if they win, or if they draw and Germany do not beat Hungary. If France lose and Hungary win, second place will be decided on overall goal difference.
- Germany will go through if they win, or if they draw and France do not lose. Germany will finish first if they win and France do not. Germany will finish third if they draw and France lose, or if both Germany and Portugal lose.
- Portugal will go through if they win, or if they draw and Germany lose. Portugal will finish first if they win and Germany do not. Portugal will finish fourth if they lose and Germany also lose.
- Hungary will go through in second place if they win and Portugal lose. If they win and France lose, second place will be decided on overall goal difference. Hungary will finish third if they win and the other game is drawn.
Group F: Germany vs Hungary (21:00, Munich)
Germany needs a draw to progress while Hungary needs an outright win to wait for the outcomes from the simultaneous match between France and Portugal. They could either finish second or third with a win.
Germany has an injury blow with Thomas Muller out of the game. They, however, have Leon Goretzka back with other strikers who would like to make the difference with Muller’s absence. Germany is weak at the defence having kept only 3 clean sheets in their last 16 matches. Joachim Loew would be very cautious to avoid been punished at the counter. They have improved significantly against Portugal – trouncing the reigning European champions 4-2, thanks to two Portuguese own-goals and strikes from Kai Havertz and Robin Gosens.
Not in company of their partisan crowd who cheered them to a ‘golden’ draw against France, Hungary would need to muster composure to defeat Germany in Munich tonight. They have the ability to upset the big boys in this kind of occasions as seen against Portugal in Euro 2016. Hungary has been impressive at the Euro 2020, keeping Portugal at bay for 84 minutes and going ahead of France in their second match before the world champions equalized.
Group F: Portugal v France (21:00, Budapest)
A draw would see France through while Portugal needs a win to be sure. If Portugal draws, they will need outcomes elsewhere to go through.
This is a repeat of the Euro 2016 final where Portugal had the upper hand despite losing their talismanic captain, Cristiano Ronaldo, early in the game. With various permutations around this match, Portugal would still want to prove they are the defending champions. Still smashing records, C. Ronaldo would want to score his first goal against France as the 36-year-old has never scored against the Les Bleus. Tonight’s game might see him equaling Ali Daei’s 109-goal all-time international record. With Fernando Santos rich on attacking talents and Bruno Fernandes a mainstay of the Selecao since 2017, France needs to be at their best to avoid a defeat.
The French Blues would want to reinstate a statement that they are tournament favourites after the drab draw with Hungary. With the trio of a mouth-watering front of Karim Benzema, Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann posing a huge threat to any defence, Portugal defenders need to be on their toes to avoid letting in more than three which would put them on the plane back home. The trio are yet to strike a chord at this tournament as they share just one goal between them. Who knows if tonight gives them the orchestra?
France has won 12 of their last 13 encounters with Portugal with the only blot on that record been the defeat in the EURO 2016 final.
Group F Standings
| P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | |
| France | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Germany | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| Portugal | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| Hungary | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 1 |
Azuka Edokobi is a Writer , a Farmer, a Supply Chain Expert and an Entrepreneur
