Jose Bosingwa: Portugal Can Beat Anyone, France Are Not Favorites

6 min read
Jul 4, 2024, 6:02 PM

France vs. Portugal: A Clash Without Clear Favourites

EURO 2024 logo is seen ahead of the UEFA EURO 2024 Germany at Leipzig Stadium

EURO 2024 logo is seen ahead of the UEFA EURO 2024 Germany at Leipzig Stadium (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images)

Former Portugal full-back Jose Bosingwa shares his insights on the highly anticipated last-16 game between Portugal and France, set to take place on July 5th, at 3:00pm ET. Despite France's consistent performance in recent years, including a World Cup win and a strong showing in the last Euros, Bosingwa believes neither team has reached their full potential. Speaking exclusively to Responsible Gambling, he emphasized that this game is a golden opportunity for both teams to showcase their abilities.

Bosingwa downplays the notion of France being favorites, highlighting the unpredictable nature of football and Portugal's potential when they play at their best. He stressed the importance of motivation and preparation for such crucial matches.

"This is football, and anything can happen. For me, there are no favorites. We are Portugal, and when we play well, we can beat anyone."

Bosingwa's confidence stems from his familiarity with the current Portuguese squad and their high motivation for this crucial match. He urges fans to support the team and trust in their ability to deliver on the big stage.

Memories of Chelsea and Life in London

Reflecting on his career, Bosingwa fondly recalls his time at Chelsea, where he won the Champions League in 2012 and played alongside football legends like Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba. He considers his tenure at Chelsea from 2008 to 2012 as some of the best years of his career, cherishing the memories and friendships he made during that period.

"Every top player wants to play at Chelsea. It means a lot for me to be able to play there, make memories, and create bonds that will last a lifetime."

Bosingwa also cherishes his experience living in London, acknowledging how fortunate he was to enjoy such a vibrant and dynamic city. His time in London left a lasting impact, both personally and professionally.

Big Preview: Portugal vs. France

As the clock ticks down to tomorrow's match, Bosingwa’s attention is firmly on the game as he supports Portugal against a formidable France team featuring Kylian Mbappe. Historically, Portugal has a good record against France in recent European Championships, remaining unbeaten in their last two encounters. Cristiano Ronaldo, despite having the most shots at Euro 2024, is yet to score, adding an intriguing subplot to the match.

Portugal has not scored in their last two matches, a rare drought that could end in this critical game. The pressure is on, but there is optimism that Ronaldo and his teammates will rise to the occasion and secure a win.

Statistical Insights

For fans of statistics, Portugal has never failed to score in three consecutive games at a major tournament, suggesting they are due for a breakthrough. On the other hand, France boasts an impressive defensive record, with clean sheets in three of their four games, making them a tough opponent. These contrasting stats set the stage for a fascinating encounter.

The head-to-head history between Portugal and France adds another layer of excitement. This will be their fifth meeting at the European Championship, with Portugal unbeaten in the last two. France, however, won the first two encounters and went on to lift the trophy both times.

The Ronaldo-Mbappe Showdown

This game features a tantalizing matchup between Cristiano Ronaldo, who has declared this his last Euros, and Kylian Mbappe, seen by many as his heir in world football. Ronaldo's recent penalty miss against Slovenia added to the drama, and he will be eager to make amends by leading his team to victory.

"When we go to tournaments, we are expected to win, and that will never change. They just have to find a way to cope, and we have the players to win the game."

Portugal's coach, Roberto Martinez, knows that a win against France could set the stage for another European Championship triumph. History is on their side, as the last four teams to eliminate France at the quarter-final stage of a major tournament have gone on to win the trophy.

Conclusion

As Portugal prepares to face France tomorrow, Bosingwa's words resonate with hope and confidence. He believes in the strength and potential of the Portuguese team, urging them to seize this moment and make their mark. With the right support and determination, Portugal has every chance of advancing and continuing their quest for European glory.

<p>With 20+ years of writing experience across sports, gambling, regulation, technology, and startups, Sol brings a broad understanding to his role as Editor-in-Chief at RG. His work provides clear, factual information to help readers make informed decisions about gambling. Sol’s approach is about transparency and research, so the content at RG is straightforward, evidence-based, and accessible.</p><p>At RG, Sol keeps the focus on the reader by maintaining a standard of reliability and integrity in the information shared. Under his editorial direction, RG aims to provide practical insights into sports and sports entertainment that support a balanced and informed approach. Sol’s approach has helped RG become a go-to source for readers looking to engage responsibly and thoughtfully in the industry.</p>
Interests:
NFL
CFL
NBA
MLB
NHL
ATP
UEFA
NCAA Baseball
PGA
Wimbledon
UFC
Digital Art
Art Collecting
Publishing Books
Advanced Technology

More Exclusive Interviews

Our Authors

Paruyr Shahbazyan started his business career as an entrepreneur in 2000. Over 13 years, he learned business and leadership, which laid the foundation for his career.

In 2013, Paruyr entered the sports and betting industry as the founder and president of Bookmaker Rating, an online media platform he led until 2020. The platform focuses on in-depth analysis and insights in sports betting and has gained a reputation for quality content.

In 2022, Paruyr co-founded Azuro, a decentralized betting protocol. This shows his commitment to technology in the sports betting space. Through all these experiences, Paruyr has been shaping and influencing the betting industry, setting new trends and standards.

Innovation in sportsbetting comes from a deep understanding of both technology and the human element of sports.

Strategic Vision

Paruyr's vision is to revolutionize the sports entertainment industry by integrating technology. He sees the future of sports entertainment as a blend of traditional sports knowledge with innovative tech solutions, like decentralized protocols, to enhance user experience and fairness. He aims to create platforms that are not only user-friendly but also uphold the highest standards of ethical reporting, contributing to a more responsible and enjoyable sports culture.

Sol Fayerman-Hansen
Sol Fayerman-Hansen
Editor-in-Chief

With 20+ years of writing experience across sports, gambling, regulation, technology, and startups, Sol brings a broad understanding to his role as Editor-in-Chief at RG. His work provides clear, factual information to help readers make informed decisions about gambling. Sol’s approach is about transparency and research, so the content at RG is straightforward, evidence-based, and accessible.

At RG, Sol keeps the focus on the reader by maintaining a standard of reliability and integrity in the information shared. Under his editorial direction, RG aims to provide practical insights into sports and sports entertainment that support a balanced and informed approach. Sol’s approach has helped RG become a go-to source for readers looking to engage responsibly and thoughtfully in the industry.

Cristina Varela Galan
Cristina Varela Galan
Problem Gambling Expert

Cristina used to work as a Psychology Assistant in the Bizkaia Pathological and Risky Gamblers Association. She was also part of a research team in Deusto University, specializing in pathological gambling area. While working there, she managed to develop her own project 

 “Exploring the association between emotional regulation, alexithymia, stressful life events and gambling in adolescent and young adult women”.

Nick Ashbourne
Nick Ashbourne
Senior Writer

Nick has been fascinated with sports since he was first taken to a Toronto Maple Leafs game back in 1998, and he's written about them professionally since 2014.

Nick has covered baseball and hockey for outlets like The Athletic, Sportsnet, and Yahoo Sports, and his sports betting expertise has grown since its legalization in Ontario in 2022. 

Between 2022 and 2023 he worked for a betting startup called NorthStar Bets, and in 2024 he contributed to Oddspedia before joining the RG team.

Sergey Demidov
Sergey Demidov
Head of News Department

Sergey has been in sports journalism since 2007 as a reporter, editor, and manager. He has covered the Olympic Games, soccer World Cups, the World Cup of Hockey in 2016, the European championships, the Stanley Cup Finals, IOC events, and many others. Sergey interviewed the sport's greatest athletes, coaches, and executives. Since 2016, he has been an Independent Senior Editor of NHL.com/ru.

Anna Kravtcova
Anna Kravtcova
Problem Gambling Expert

Ph.D. in organizational psychology, an internationally certified psychologist (EuroPsy 2022, Cognitive behavioural therapy of mindfulness 2020, International Society for Emotional Intelligence 2017, Russian Psychological society 2014, American Psychological Association(Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychologist) 2011), speaker of many international conferences (USA, Brazil, Portugal, Czech Republic, Russia, etc.). TEDx speaker.

Mark Medina
Mark Medina
NBA Reporter

Mark Medina is a longtime NBA reporter that includes stints as a Lakers blogger with The Los Angeles Times (2010-12), Lakers beat writer with the Los Angeles Daily News (2012-17), Warriors beat writer with Bay Area News Group (2017-19) as well as an NBA reporter/columnist for USA Today (2019-21) and NBA.com (2021-23). Medina is also an NBA insider with Fox Sports Radio and frequent contributor to CBSLA's SportsCentralLA with Jim Hill and with Spectrum Sportsnet.

Daria Tuboltseva
Daria Tuboltseva
Hockey Reporter

Daria went to St. Petersburg State University and earned a bachelor of international journalism. Working as a sports journalist from 2014, from 2016 as a hockey journalist. Covered 5 World Championships, 2022 Winter Olympics, 2020 World Juniors, 6 Gagarin Cup Finals. 

Owner of a telegram channel Coolest Game on Earth.

Integrative nutritionist specializing on sports nutritionology.

Paul M. Banks
Paul M. Banks
Sports Reporter

Paul M. Banks is a professional Content Creator whose career has seen bylines in numerous publications, including the New York Daily News, Chicago Tribune, USA Today, Yahoo, MSN, FOX Sports and Sports Illustrated.

Banks has made scores of guest appearances on live radio and television, featuring regularly on NTD News, WGN-TV, CCTV, ESPN Radio, the History Channel, SiriusXM and CBS Sports Radio.

He is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank.net, which has been featured and linked in hundreds of leading media outlets all across the world.

He has also authored two books, one of which, "No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in Sports Media," became an assigned textbook in journalism courses at State University New York-Oneonta.

Marco D'Amico
Marco D'Amico
Hockey Reporter

Marco D'Amico is a beat reporter covering the Montreal Canadiens and the NHL Draft, while also being a recurring guest on TSN690 and BPM Sports. His work primarily on NHL CBA breakdowns and prospect analysis, all while covering the Montreal Canadiens on a day-to-day basis.

Show More