France Beat Portugal 5-3 on Penalties: UEFA Euro 2024 – Match Recap
France Beat Portugal 5-3 on Penalties: UEFA Euro 2024 – Match Recap
In a thrilling UEFA Euro 2024 quarter-final in Hamburg, France triumphed over Portugal in a penalty shootout, securing their place in the semi-finals. Theo Hernandez netted the decisive penalty after Joao Felix, a substitute for Portugal, hit the outside of the post with his attempt, marking the only miss in the shootout.
Following the dramatic conclusion, French players rushed across the pitch to celebrate with their fans, while the Portuguese team, who had previously bested Slovenia in a shootout five days earlier, were left to console their supporters.
This match also signaled the end of an era for Portugal's captain, Cristiano Ronaldo, who confirmed earlier in the week that this would be his final European Championship. The much-anticipated face-off between the 39-year-old Ronaldo and France’s Kylian Mbappe turned out to be less impactful than expected. Despite this, Ronaldo successfully converted his penalty, while Mbappe, wearing a mask due to a broken nose, was substituted in extra time and unable to participate in the shootout.
The match itself was tightly contested with few clear-cut chances. Portugal seemed to have the better opportunities, with Bruno Fernandes and Vitinha both testing France’s goalkeeper Mike Maignan. Meanwhile, Randal Kolo Muani's deflected shot for France narrowly missed the goal, and Eduardo Camavinga squandered a close-range effort.
As the game extended into extra time, Portugal’s talisman Ronaldo missed a crucial chance, sending Francisco Conceicao’s cutback over the bar to the dismay of fans. Portugal’s luck eventually ran out in the second consecutive shootout they faced.
France's victory sets up a semi-final clash against Spain in Munich on Tuesday, with a kick-off scheduled for 20:00 BST.
Mbappe's Spark Missing as France Stumble Through Euro 2024 Quarter-Finals
Kylian Mbappe Struggles with Injury During France's Euro 2024 Campaign
Throughout the UEFA Euro 2024 tournament, focus has been on Kylian Mbappe, who has been playing with a broken nose sustained in the group stage. Despite wearing a protective mask, Mbappe has visibly struggled with discomfort. Midway through the second half of the quarter-final against Portugal, he was hit in the face by the ball, requiring several minutes of treatment before returning to the pitch, still fiddling with his mask and clearly in pain.
Ultimately, Mbappe was unable to provide the spark France needed to secure victory in regular time. It was no surprise when he was substituted during extra time, sitting in the dugout with ice on his face. France manager Didier Deschamps acknowledged Mbappe's struggles, stating, "He is always very honest with me and the team. When he feels he doesn't have the capacity to accelerate, we cannot afford to lose that, even when it's Kylian."
Without Mbappe's magic, France lacked creativity and struggled, relying on brief lapses in Portugal’s defense for scoring opportunities. Eduardo Camavinga had a significant chance to put France ahead, but he dragged his close-range shot wide.
In the end, neither team pushed hard for a winner in extra time, and France progressed to the semi-finals after a tense penalty shootout. While they were one of the favorites entering the tournament, their performance has not convinced supporters that they can overcome a strong Spanish side in the next match.
No Fairytale Ending for Portugal as Martinez Faces Criticism
Despite the heroics of goalkeeper Diogo Costa in Portugal’s last-16 shootout victory over Slovenia, there was no fairytale ending in their quarter-final clash against France. Cristiano Ronaldo, in the spotlight for failing to score for the first time at a major tournament, struggled to make an impact and offered little in Portugal’s attack.
Instead, it was Rafael Leao who provided creative flair, generating numerous chances down the left side. The AC Milan forward set up Bruno Fernandes with a smart pass in the second half, but the Manchester United midfielder's shot was straight at French goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
France's defense, led by William Saliba, held strong against Portugal's attacks. Saliba was a formidable presence, while veteran Pepe was superb at the back for Roberto Martinez’s side. However, Martinez faced criticism for his conservative team selection. Despite needing a goal, he left attacking threats Diogo Jota and Goncalo Ramos on the bench, opting to stick with the same starting XI that played 120 minutes in the previous match.
Martinez’s reliance on Ronaldo, who has often delivered for Portugal, did not pay off this time, as the veteran forward could not inspire his team to victory in Germany.
France to Face Spain in Euro 2024 Semi-Finals
France's victory sets up a highly anticipated semi-final clash against Spain in Munich on Tuesday, with kick-off scheduled for 20:00 BST. Despite their struggles, France will look to regroup and find the creativity and resilience needed to advance to the Euro 2024 final.
