Hamburg, Germany — France ended Cristiano Ronaldo’s title bid in his last European Championship by defeating Portugal 5-3 in a penalty shootout to reach the semi-finals on Friday.
After the game ended 0-0 after extra time, Portuguese substitute João Félix hit the post with the only error in the penalty shootout and Theo Hernández showed no sign of pressure as he converted the decisive shot into the top corner.
It was a record sixth and final European Championship for 39-year-old Ronaldo, who scored Portugal’s first penalty in the shootout and ended up consoling fellow veteran Pepe afterwards as the 41-year-old defender cried on his captain’s shoulder.
“We need to go through this moment of our loss, which is very painful,” said Pepe.
Ronaldo’s 20-year Euro career included the title in 2016 – when Portugal beat France in the final – and it remains to be seen whether this year’s five-time world champion will continue playing for his country until the 2026 World Cup, when he will turn 41. .
“Everything is very raw,” said Portugal coach Roberto Martinez when asked if that was Ronaldo’s last game for his country. “We are suffering a defeat as a team – there are no individual decisions at this point.”
The victory ended Kylian Mbappé and France’s recent penalty shootout heartbreak, having lost in the last two major tournaments – the 2021 Euro round of 16 and the 2022 World Cup final.
Mbappé didn’t even take a penalty in the shootout, having been replaced after the first half of extra time, after some blows to his broken nose, which was covered by a protective mask.
Les Bleus had no need for their star player as Ousmane Dembele, Youssouf Fofana, Jules Kounde and Bradley Barcola scored in penalties – played in front of Portuguese fans – before Hernández’s coup de grace sparked scenes of jubilation for the French. the stadium in Hamburg.
“It wasn’t easy,” said French goalkeeper Mike Maignan. “We haven’t always played so well, it was a complicated game. We played well defensively.”
“We reached the penalty shootout and didn’t waver. We can be proud of ourselves.”
France will face Spain in the semi-finals after their extra time victory over Germany in Stuttgart, with Les Bleus on their way to their third European Championship title after 1984 and 2000.
Didier Deschamps’ team reached the semi-finals despite no French player scoring from open play so far in the tournament.
Portugal came away without having managed to score in any of the knockout games – the team beat Slovenia on penalties in the round of 16 – and in the last game of the group stage, leaving Martinez with many questions to answer.
“For our part, we deserved to win,” Martinez said. “But we are talking about the best players in Europe. It’s a sad night.”
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