PeakNews Online
Hamburg, Germany – In a dramatic penalty shootout, France emerged victorious against Portugal, securing their spot in the semi-finals of Euro 2024.
The tense encounter took place in Hamburg, culminating in Theo Hernandez’s decisive penalty after Portugal’s Joao Felix missed his crucial attempt, hitting the post.
As Hernandez’s winning goal hit the net, the French players sprinted across the pitch to celebrate with their supporters, while the Portuguese squad, who had previously triumphed over Slovenia in a shootout just five days earlier, faced the disappointment of defeat. The match also marked the end of an era for Portugal’s captain, Cristiano Ronaldo, who had announced this would be his final Euros.
The highly anticipated duel between the 39-year-old Ronaldo and France’s Kylian Mbappe ultimately did not live up to expectations, as both stars struggled to make a significant impact. Ronaldo successfully converted his spot-kick, but Mbappe, playing with a protective mask due to a broken nose, had to be substituted in extra time after sustaining a knock to the face, preventing him from participating in the shootout.
The match itself was a cautious affair with limited scoring opportunities. Portugal came closest to breaking the deadlock, with Bruno Fernandes and Vitinha both being denied by French goalkeeper Mike Maignan. France’s Randal Kolo Muani saw his shot deflected just wide by Ruben Dias, while Eduardo Camavinga missed a golden chance to put France ahead, dragging his effort wide from close range.
In extra time, Ronaldo had a prime opportunity to score from a cutback by Francisco Conceicao but astonishingly fired over the bar, much to the dismay of the fans. The match ultimately went to penalties, where France prevailed, ending Portugal’s hopes after their second consecutive shootout.
With this victory, France advances to face Spain in the semi-finals, set to take place in Munich on Tuesday.
Joe
