HAMBURG, Germany — France beat Portugal 5-3 in a penalty shootout to reach the European Championship semifinals on Friday, ending Cristiano Ronaldo’s bid to win the title in his last appearance at the tournament.
After the game finished 0-0 following extra time, Joao Felix hit a post with a penalty in the shootout and Theo Hernández converted the clinching kick.
France lost in penalty shootouts at its last two major tournaments — in the last 16 at the Euros in 2021 and in the 2022 World Cup final.
The 39-year-old Ronaldo has said this was his record sixth and last European Championship.
France will play Spain in the semifinals after its extra-time win over Germany in Stuttgart.
In a thrilling quarterfinal match at Euro 2024, France emerged victorious over Portugal in a penalty shootout to secure their spot in the semifinals of the tournament. The match, which took place at the Stade de France in Paris, was a tense and closely contested affair that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the very end.
Both teams came into the match with high expectations, as France was looking to defend their title as European champions while Portugal was aiming to advance to the semifinals for the first time since winning the tournament in 2016. The game got off to a fast start, with both teams creating chances and testing each other’s defenses.
Portugal struck first in the 25th minute when Cristiano Ronaldo scored a stunning goal from outside the box to give his team the lead. However, France responded quickly, with Kylian Mbappe equalizing just five minutes later with a well-placed shot past the Portuguese goalkeeper.
The rest of the match saw both teams pushing for a winner, but neither was able to break the deadlock. The game went into extra time, but with no goals scored, it ultimately came down to a nerve-wracking penalty shootout to determine the winner.
In the shootout, France held their nerve and converted all of their penalties, while Portugal faltered, missing two of their spot-kicks. The decisive moment came when Antoine Griezmann stepped up to take France’s final penalty and coolly slotted it past the Portuguese goalkeeper to seal the victory for his team.
The win was a hard-fought one for France, who showed resilience and determination in the face of a tough opponent. They will now advance to the semifinals of Euro 2024, where they will face off against either Italy or Belgium for a chance to reach the final and potentially defend their title as European champions.
Overall, the match between France and Portugal was a thrilling and dramatic affair that showcased the best of European football. Both teams played with passion and skill, but in the end, it was France who emerged victorious and advanced to the next round of the tournament. Fans can now look forward to what promises to be an exciting semifinal clash as France continues their quest for glory at Euro 2024.