In a dramatic Euro 2024 quarterfinal clash, France emerged victorious over Portugal in a penalty shootout, ending Cristiano Ronaldo’s last European Championship campaign. The match, held in Hamburg, Germany, saw a goalless draw in regular and extra time, leading to a tense shootout that France won 5-3.
The Match
The quarterfinal match between France and Portugal was a tightly contested affair, with both teams failing to score in regular and extra time. The game was marked by strong defensive performances and few clear-cut chances. Kylian Mbappé, France’s star player, was substituted during halftime of extra time due to fatigue and a couple of knocks to his broken nose.
The Shootout
The penalty shootout saw France’s Ousmane Dembele, Youssouf Fofana, Jules Kounde, and Bradley Barcola all finding the net. Portugal’s Joao Felix hit the post with his attempt, which proved to be the decisive miss. Theo Hernández stepped up to take the final penalty for France and converted it with confidence, sending the French fans into jubilation.
Ronaldo’s Farewell
This match marked the end of Cristiano Ronaldo’s illustrious European Championship career. The 39-year-old scored Portugal’s first penalty in the shootout and was seen consoling his teammate Pepe, who was emotional after the loss. Ronaldo’s career in the Euros includes a title in 2016, and it remains uncertain if he will continue playing for Portugal until the 2026 World Cup.
France’s Redemption
France’s victory in the shootout ended a streak of heartbreaks in recent major tournaments. They had previously lost in penalty shootouts in the last 16 at the Euros in 2021 and in the 2022 World Cup final. This win marks their first shootout victory in 26 years, since beating Italy in the quarterfinals of the 1998 World Cup.
Looking Ahead
France will now face Spain in the semifinals, following Spain’s extra-time win over Germany. Despite not scoring from open play in the tournament so far, France has been solid defensively, conceding just one goal. Coach Didier Deschamps emphasized the importance of their defensive solidity but acknowledged the need to score more goals.
Portugal, on the other hand, exits the tournament with questions to answer, having failed to score in their knockout games and their final group match. Coach Roberto Martinez expressed his disappointment, stating that his team deserved to win but acknowledged the quality of their opponents.
As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on France as they aim for their third European Championship title, while Portugal will reflect on what could have been.
