Theo Hernandez scored the winning kick as Kylian Mbappe’s France beat Portugal 5-3 in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals on penalties after 120 goalless minutes on Friday in what will probably be remembered as the last Cristiano Ronaldo’s match in the tournament. France were successful on all penalties as they advanced to their quarter-final clash against Spain, while Portugal’s João Félix was the only player to miss, sending his team’s third shot onto the post. It is an expected success on penalties for France, after losing the 2022 World Cup final on penalties to Argentina and being eliminated from the last Euro three years ago in the same way, against Switzerland in the round of 16. in the last major tournament in Germany, going to Italy in the 2006 World Cup final.
Mbappe, who missed the crucial shot against the Swiss, was already off the field at the time of the penalty shootout, having been replaced by Bardley Barcola midway through extra time.
Barcola, Ousmane Dembele, Youssouf Fofana and Jules Kounde also scored from the penalty spot for France.
Mbappe endured a frustrating night as he continues to search for his best form in the competition, but appears self-conscious as he wears a mask to protect the nose he broke against Austria in France’s opening game.
At least he will have one more chance to star in the semi-final, while 39-year-old Ronaldo appears to have played in the Euros for the last time.
This was his sixth European Championship, but he was unable to add to his record of 14 goals in Germany after missing in all five of Portugal’s games.
He scored the penalty, Portugal’s first, but Roberto Martinez’s team left without scoring in more than six hours of football.
They beat Slovenia on penalties in the round of 16 after a goalless draw, but this time they fell short in what was a disappointing game in Hamburg.
None of these teams had played anywhere near their potential in previous games of the tournament, but especially not France, who got this far without any of their players scoring a goal in open play.
Randal Kolo Muani’s reward for coming off the bench to force the late own goal that allowed Les Bleus to beat Belgium in the last round was a place in the starting line-up.
Eduardo Camavinga also came in, replacing the suspended Adrien Rabiot in midfield, while Antoine Griezmann was named at number 10 behind Kolo Muani and Mbappe.
France have been happy to lay off teams and rely on an excellent defense while struggling to play with real intensity when in possession.
They had less possession in this game, an often disappointing contest that briefly came to life in the second half.
Portugal began to cause problems with runners entering the area from midfield, first when Bruno Fernandes had a shot saved by Mike Maignan just after the hour mark.
Vitinha was the next to try his luck moments later, hitting Rafael Leão’s low center. Maignan, determined not to concede his first goal in open play in the competition, saved the shot and reacted quickly to prevent Ronaldo from shooting with his heel from close range. -clothing.
France responded when Kolo Muani played a one-two with Kounde and headed in on goal, only for a vital Ruben Dias interception to save Portugal.
Deschamps then removed Antoine Griezmann and sent on Dembélé, who wasted no time and created a golden opportunity for Camavinga, which the midfielder deflected wide.
From then on, the game began to inevitably head towards extra time, where Ronaldo wasted a good opportunity when substitute Francisco Conceição was blocked.
That was more than Mbappé managed, and the France captain watched the end of extra time from the bench, with Maignan denying Nuno Mendes at the end of the 120 minutes and taking penalties.
The penalty shoot-out took place late in Portugal, at the Volksparkstadion, with Maignan unable to save, but without needing to.
Portuguese Diogo Costa saved three of Slovenia’s penalties in the last round, but this time he was unable to save any of them.
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