Theo Hernandez struck the profitable penalty for France after Portugal’s Joao Felix had hit a publish within the shootout following a 0-0 draw to ship Didier Deschamps’ facet 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 remaining 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 might 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 publish from shut vary.
Impression sub Ousmane Dembele grazed a publish within the remaining moments of the 90 however extra-time noticed these two latest European champions err on the facet of warning. A half-chance for Ronaldo was hacked over as Pepe and Dayot Upamecano celebrated blocks like objectives.
The most important speaking level of that additional 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 – should have been in severe discomfort to step off the pitch earlier than the shootout however his compatriots had been excellent from 12 yards.
Joao Felix was the one participant to overlook, whacking his effort in opposition to an upright, which offered 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 famous person Kylian Mbappe on the pitch, consideration is drawn in the 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 might 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 means.
With Portugal failing to hyperlink up within the remaining third, Goncalo Ramos – who famously scored a hat-trick when he changed Ronaldo as a starter on the World Cup – and Diogo Jota had 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 remaining time we see him at a serious match. His remaining Euros has ended with out an in-game purpose and an indication – to observers from exterior the Portugal camp at the very least – that it’s time to transfer on to the subsequent technology.
It wasn’t fairly however France discover a means by way of
Kylian Mbappe appears to be like to get a shot away in opposition to Portugal
So it isn’t simply England supporters who’re lamenting their facet’s lack of thrilling soccer at these championships. France followers should be feeling precisely the identical. Extremely, Les Bleus have reached the semi-finals with out scoring as soon as from open play.
They not often regarded like ending that unusual drought in opposition to Portugal.
Didier Deschamps’ facet had been so passive, permitting Portugal to manage possession for lengthy durations. 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 way of extra-time indicated that. However round him there appears an absence of conviction or dedication to go for it from his team-mates.
Ousmane Dembele did at the very least present that required drive when he got here off the bench and is unquestionably 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 sooner or later on this competitors.
Tchouameni: We do not care if we do not should undergo
France midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni: “We do not care whether or not it is deserved or not, we need to savour this victory. Not the whole lot is ideal offensively and defensively, that is true.
“We get crushed up, typically 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 informed Report: “It hurts to lose like that. It is onerous to search 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 had been completely happy in regards to the penalties and now we’re unhappy. We had been sensible 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 this time it might be extra open with a unique rhythm, similar to Turkey, who needed to play open in opposition to us.
“I needed to proceed on this competitors. The hug means so much… it isn’t the proper time [to talk] as a result of it’s extremely painful and we’ll have the chance to speak about it later. I will have time to speak about my future, we have now to recover from this enormous ache, we had the power to win the competitors, and now we have now to raise our heads.”
