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Head-to-heads

Portugal and France have met on 21 previous occasions. France have won 15 and Portugal five. These teams have only met twice competitively, both times in the semi-finals of a European Championship. In 1984, France won 3-2 after extra time with Michel Platini scoring the winner in the 119th minute. At Euro 2000, France were again victorious by a 2-1 margin, thanks to a golden goal by Zinedine Zidane in the 117th minute. On both occasions, France went on to win the trophy.

Costinha, Luis Figo and Nuno Gomes are the only players in the Portugese squad who also played against France in 2000. Gomes was banned for seven months for his involvement in a melee at the end of the match. The French squad contains seven players involved in that clash six years ago - Fabien Barthez, Lilian Thuram, Patrick Vieira, Zinedine Zidane, Sylvain Wiltord, Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet.

Youri Djorkaeff, Sylvain Wiltord, Mikael Silvestre and Thierry Henry all got on the score sheet when these teams last faced each other - France winning a friendly 4-0 on 25 April 2001. That took France's winning run against Portugal to seven matches, since the Portuguese beat them 2-0 in 1975.

Team facts - Portugal

Portugal have reached the World Cup semi-finals for the second time and the first time in 40 years. In 1966 they were knocked out by eventual winners England, and finished third.

Portugal are now unbeaten in 17 competitive matches. Their last competitive defeat dates back to the final of Euro 2004 when they succumbed lost to Greece (1-0).

Team facts - France

France are taking part in the World Cup for the 12th time. Their best performance came in 1998 when they were crowned world champions in their own country.

This is their 50th World Cup match. In Portugal, France face the third consecutive opponent who navigated the group phase with a 100% record, following Spain and Brazil. France have conceded two goals in five matches at this tournament - Portugal have leaked just one goal.

Player facts - Portugal

Portugal midfielder Petit is suspended for this match, having been booked twice in the knock-out phase. Maniche, Nuno Valente, Ricardo Carvalho, Ricardo and Luis Figo will be suspended if booked.

If he figures, Nuno Gomes will be playing on his 30th birthday. Ricardo Carvalho, Fernando Meira and Ricardo have played every minute of every match for Portugal so far.

Player facts - France

Franck Ribery, Patrick Vieira, Zinedine Zidane, Louis Saha, Willy Sagnol and Lilian Thuram will miss a potential final match if they receive a yellow card against Portugal.

Goalkeeper Fabien Barthez will break the record of Maxime Bossis as France's most capped player at the World Cup if he takes his place between the sticks. It will be his 16th appearance in World Cup finals. Barthez, William Gallas, Claude Makelele, Sagnol and Thuram have played every minute of every match for France so far.

Miscellaneous Info

Portugal are the only semi-finalists led by a foreign coach. The World Cup has never been won by a team with a foreign coach. Luiz Felipe Scolari is attempting to become the first to win the competition with two different nations, after leading Brazil to the title in 2002. He's undefeated in all 12 of his matches at the World Cup (11 wins, one draw - the draw being 0-0 with England in the quarter-finals last Saturday, which Portugal eventually won on penalties of course).

If selected, William Gallas and Claude Makelele will face Chelsea team mates Paulo Ferreira, Ricardo Carvalho and Maniche. Cristiano Ronaldo could run into Manchester United colleagues Mikael Silvestre and Louis Saha, while Portuguese striker Pauleta may go head-to-head with fellow Paris Saint-Germain employees Mickael Landreau and Vikash Dhorasoo. Tiago may face no fewer than five of his Olympique Lyon clubmates - Gregory Coupet, Eric Abidal, Florent Malouda, Sidney Govou and Sylvain Wiltord.

Big Match Stats source: Infostrada Sports