France 0-0 Portugal: Player Ratings as European heavyweights are locked in a stalemate | UEFA Nations League 2020-21

France and Portugal played out a goalless draw in the UEFA Nations League, as the Stade de France played host to a rematch of the EURO 2016 final.

In what was a largely uninspiring game between two good sides, France had the better opportunities in the second half. Neither Hugo Lloris nor Rui Patricio were majorly tested, though, on a night when clearcut chances for either side were few and far between.

Cristiano Ronaldo pulled the trigger on a great chance before half-time but Lucas Hernandez denied him with a fabulous block.

Ronaldo also had the chance to win the game for Portugal in second-half stoppage time, but his near-post effort was comfortably parried away by Lloris.

Here's how each player fared for both sides.

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France Player Ratings

Hugo Lloris - 6/10

The France goalkeeper made a straightforward last-minute save to deny Ronaldo a winner, but otherwise, he was not worked overly hard.

Benjamin Pavard - 6/10

With Joao Felix drifting in-field from his starting spot on the left-wing, Pavard had to be spot on with his communication with Varane, and he was. He also went forward on occasion, but couldn't provide much quality.

Raphael Varane - 6/10

Against the likes of Ronaldo and Felix, Varane's ability to read the game and shut out the killer passes from Bruno Fernandes was really important.

Presnel Kimpembe - 7/10

Kimpembe was outstanding in this game. He was the one who mostly had control over shutting Ronaldo out, and he did it with aplomb.

Lucas Hernandez - 7/10

Hernandez ensured that Ronaldo didn't give Portugal the lead with a critical, sensational block in the first half. His robust defending also meant that Bernardo Silva and Nelson Semedo had a tough night for Portugal.

N'Golo Kante - 5/10

In his usual role as the destroyer in midfield for France, Kante did not particularly stand out in this game. Some of his passes went astray, and he didn't really get tested too much by the Portuguese midfield either.

Paul Pogba - 7/10

Pogba was the standout midfielder on the pitch throughout the game. His passing range was terrific, he linked up well with the forward players, and most importantly, he drove forward brilliantly with the ball, on multiple occasions.

Adrien Rabiot - 6/10

Rabiot started on the left of what looked like a midfield diamond for France, as Didier Deschamps continued to try out different systems ahead of next summer's European Championships. The Juventus man put in a decent enough shift, but couldn't unlock the Portuguese defence.

Kylian Mbappe - 7/10

Mbappe was always a source of potential trouble for the Portuguese defenders, with his running in behind. However, he had only one chance in the game, when he breezed past Semedo and tried to chip Patricio. Unfortunately for the Frenchman, the Portuguese 'keeper stood tall to parry that shot.

Antoine Griezmann - 6/10

Griezmann had precious little service into him in the first half, but still had a half-chance, as Patricio saved a near-post shot. In the second half, he dropped a lot deeper, and played more as a creator.

Olivier Giroud - 4/10

Giroud didn't really hold the ball up well in this game. That meant that he couldn't link up with the likes of Mbappe and Griezmann as well as he'd have liked to.

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Substitutes

Anthony Martial - 6/10

Martial had one half-chance, when he ran at the Portuguese defence from the left wing and took a shot, but it was blocked by an alert Ruben Dias.

Kingsley Coman - N/A

Coman came on late in the game to replace Mbappe.

Portugal Player Ratings

Portugal kept another clean sheet (Image Courtesy: @selecaoportugal Twitter)

Rui Patricio - 6/10

Patricio made a smart save off Mbappe early in the second half, after denying Griezmann at the near-post in the first. Another clean sheet for the Portugue

Nelson Semedo - 6/10

Semedo had a few issues defending against the pace and trickery of Mbappe. He was also not a big factor in Portuguese attacks, as he was well managed by Hernandez.

Ruben Dias - 8/10

Dias was the best player on the pitch. Having received a yellow card early in the game, Dias was impeccable with every touch and defensive action of his for the rest of the game.

Pepe - 7/10

The veteran did well in the physical duel with Giroud. He did not allow the French striker time to turn with the ball, or the chance to get the ball on the floor and link up with Mbappe and Griezmann.

Raphael Guerreiro - 5/10

Guerreiro was almost a non-entity, apart from the delivery of his set-pieces, which were on point, as usual. Pepe just strayed off-side for one of his free-kicks, which was headed in, but the officials were alive to the situation.

Danilo Pereira - 5/10

Pereira could no control Pogba's drive with the ball, and really cost Portugal momentum, especially in the second half. Even when France didnt' give Pogba options to pass the ball to, he drove forward unchecked, which was an issue for Fernando Santos's side.

William Carvalho - 5/10

Carvalho had an atrocious game in possession of the ball. His passing radar was completely off, and when he tried to dribble through midfield, he promptly gave the ball away as well.

Bruno Fernandes - 6/10

Fernandes couldn't really have a sustained impact on the match. He drifted wide to the left to provide Felix some support, but he couldn't manage to play enough of his killer passes into the likes of Ronaldo.

Bernardo Silva - 4/10

The Manchester City man is still in clear need of match fitness and sharpness, so this game would have helped him in that sense. In isolation, it was a terrible performance from Bernardo.

Joao Felix - 5/10

The youngster couldn't leave his mark on the game at all. He was on the pitch for long enough for the average watcher to do more than scratch their head to find what he was effective at during the game.

Cristiano Ronaldo - 6/10

He had a couple of decent chances to score, but this was far from a typical Ronaldo performance, which was made sure of, by Kimpembe and Varane.

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Substitutes

Diogo Jota - 6/10

The Liverpool man came on with around half an hour to play, and tried to link up play in the final third, but was faced by a French brickwall instead.

Renato Sanches - 6/10

Sanches had one shot from the inside-left position, which was easily saved by Lloris.

Francisco Trincao - 6/10

In injury time, Trincao almost had his big moment, when he set up Ronaldo for a shot from inside the box, but the Portuguese skipper was denied by Lloris.

Joao Moutinho - N/A

Moutinho didn't have an impact on the game, after coming on as a late substitute.

Joao Cancelo - N/A

Cancelo was a late substitute as well, not having enough time to influence the game.