Silverio Omari
France defeated Portugal in a thrilling penalty shootout to secure their spot in the Euro 2024 semi-finals in Hamburg.
The decisive moment came when Theo Hernandez converted the winning penalty, after Portugal’s Joao Felix struck the post with his attempt, the only miss of the shootout.
Celebrations erupted as French players rushed to their fans, while Portugal, who had triumphed over Slovenia in a shootout earlier, were left disappointed despite their valiant effort.
The match marked the end of an era for Portugal’s captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who had announced this tournament would be his last Euros.
Anticipation had been high for a showdown between Ronaldo, 39, and France’s Kylian Mbappe, but neither managed to make a significant impact, although Ronaldo did convert his penalty kick.
Mbappe, sporting a mask due to a broken nose sustained earlier, had to be substituted during extra time and was unable to participate in the shootout.
The game was tightly contested with few clear-cut opportunities, though Portugal had some promising chances. Goalkeeper Mike Maignan denied Bruno Fernandes and Vitinha, while France’s Randal Kolo Muani saw his shot deflected narrowly wide by Ruben Dias.
In a critical moment, Eduardo Camavinga missed a golden opportunity for France, dragging his effort wide from close range.
With neither side able to break the deadlock in regulation time, the match went into extra time. Portugal’s Ronaldo squandered a chance late in the game, firing Francisco Conceicao’s cross well over the bar to the disbelief of fans.
Ultimately, Portugal’s luck in penalty shootouts ran out after their second consecutive shootout, ending their journey in Euro 2024.
Dj Vnyash
