Theo Hernandez struck the profitable penalty for France after Portugal’s Joao Felix had hit a submit within the shootout following a 0-0 draw to ship Didier Deschamps’ aspect right into a Euro 2024 semi-final with Spain.
There have been no tears this time from Cristiano Ronaldo, who had been overcome by emotion throughout Portugal’s last-16 win over Slovenia, however, regardless of changing his personal spot-kick, the 39-year-old’s last Euros marketing campaign resulted in defeat. He was left to console excellent 41-year-old team-mate Pepe on the finish of all of it.
Cristiano Ronaldo consoles Pepe after Portugal’s Euro 2024 defeat to France
Ronaldo was on the fringes for a lot of the cagey contest, though either side will really feel they may have received it within the second half of regular time. France’s Mike Maignan produced two sharp stops to maintain out Bruno Fernandes and Vitinha earlier than smothering Ronaldo’s follow-up backheel, whereas Randal Kolo Muani noticed his shot blocked by Ruben Dias on the different finish earlier than Eduardo Camavinga scuffed past the far submit from shut vary.
Influence sub Ousmane Dembele grazed a submit within the last moments of the 90 however extra-time noticed these two latest European champions err on the aspect of warning. A half-chance for Ronaldo was hacked over as Pepe and Dayot Upamecano celebrated blocks like targets.
The most important speaking level of that further interval was Kylian Mbappe coming off at half-time, having sustained a blow to his face earlier within the match. France’s star man – masked and nursing that damaged nostril – will need to have been in severe discomfort to step off the pitch earlier than the shootout however his compatriots have been excellent from 12 yards.
Joao Felix was the one participant to overlook, whacking his effort in opposition to an upright, which introduced Hernandez with the prospect to ship France into the ultimate 4 and a showdown with Spain in Munich on Tuesday.
Ronaldo centre stage once more – however was this his curtain name?
Cristiano Ronaldo takes on Theo Hernandez
Even with celebrity Kylian Mbappe on the pitch, consideration is drawn in direction of Cristiano Ronaldo. His penalty shootout spot-kick summed up the theatre which surrounds him. The dramatic consumption of breath. The staggered run-up. And the large celebration when he impressively thumped the ball in.
However whereas he could have performed his half in Portugal’s two shootouts within the knockout levels of those Euros, his contributions throughout regular play have been much less convincing. He was remoted right here and spurned the half-chances once they did come his manner.
With Portugal failing to hyperlink up within the last third, Goncalo Ramos – who famously scored a hat-trick when he changed Ronaldo as a starter on the World Cup – and Diogo Jota have been sat on the bench presumably questioning once they would get a go. The nod from Roberto Martinez by no means got here.
The Portugal supervisor stood by Ronaldo till the final. And maybe this would be the last time we see him at a significant event. His last Euros has ended with out an in-game purpose and an illustration – to observers from exterior the Portugal camp not less than – that it’s time to transfer on to the following era.
It wasn’t fairly however France discover a manner by
Kylian Mbappe seems to get a shot away in opposition to Portugal
So it is not simply England supporters who’re lamenting their aspect’s lack of thrilling soccer at these championships. France followers have to be feeling precisely the identical. Extremely, Les Bleus have reached the semi-finals with out scoring as soon as from open play.
They hardly ever appeared like ending that unusual drought in opposition to Portugal.
Didier Deschamps’ aspect have been so passive, permitting Portugal to manage possession for lengthy intervals. Once they did get the ball within the opposition half, there appeared little cohesion between what has confirmed to be a devastating assault up to now. Star man Kylian Mbappe clearly is not proper – his substitution halfway by extra-time indicated that. However round him there appears a scarcity of conviction or dedication to go for it from his team-mates.
Ousmane Dembele did not less than present that required drive when he got here off the bench and is definitely pushing for a beginning function in opposition to Spain. Actually France, if they’re to reclaim their European crown, might want to discover some final-third spark in some unspecified time in the future on this competitors.
Tchouameni: We do not care if we do not need to undergo
France midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni: “We do not care whether or not it is deserved or not, we wish to savour this victory. Not every thing is ideal offensively and defensively, that is true.
“We get crushed up, generally rightly so. However we’re not going to be choosy, we’re within the semi-finals [against Spain]. Everybody can discuss, you journalists too, you do your job.”
Pepe: It hurts to lose like that, we deserved extra
Portugal defender Pepe instructed Report: “It hurts to lose like that. It is exhausting to seek out phrases for what we did. We deserved a unique outcome for what we did, however that is soccer. 4 days in the past we have been pleased in regards to the penalties and now we’re unhappy. We have been good in enjoying with the outlined system, however that is soccer.
“We had two video games in opposition to Slovenia and the Czech Republic, who play in a low block and it is troublesome to face these groups. We tried to offer them width. At the moment it could be extra open with a unique rhythm, identical to Turkey, who wished to play open in opposition to us.
“I wished to proceed on this competitors. The hug means so much… it is not the appropriate time [to talk] as a result of it’s totally painful and we’ll have the chance to speak about it later. I am going to have time to speak about my future, we now have to recover from this enormous ache, we had the flexibility to win the competitors, and now we now have to carry our heads.”
