Images from the Euro 2024 quarter-final between Portugal and France, at Hamburg Volksparkstadion, Germany, on Friday.
IMAGE: Theo Hernandez celebrates with goalkeeper Mike Maignan after winning the penalty shoot-out for France in the Euro 2024 quarter-final against Portugal, at Hamburg Volksparkstadion, Germany, on Friday. Photograph: Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters
France kept their cool and converted all their kicks in the post-match shoot-out to edge Portugal 5-3 on penalties after the two sides played out a goalless stalemate in their European Championship quarter-final tie on Friday.
Theo Hernandez stroked home the winning kick for a perfect sequence after Joao Felix’s effort, the third for Portugal, hit the post.
France will now play Spain in the semi-finals on Tuesday, in Munich.
IMAGE: France defender Theo Hernandez in hot pursiut of Cristiano Ronaldo as he breaks into the box. Photograph: Carmen Jaspersen/Reuters
Defeat for Portugal likely spells the end of the 21-year international career of 39-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo, who converted their first kick in the shoot-out but was also responsible for one of the night’s many glaring misses.
Success for France makes up for penalty shoot-out heartbreak at the last Euros, when they were eliminated by Switzerland in the last-16, and in the 2022 World Cup final against Argentina.
IMAGE: Kylian Mbappe drills a shot at the Portugal goal. Photograph: Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters
Ousmane Dembele, Youssouf Fofana, Jules Kounde and Bradley Barcola were all netted their spot kicks for victorious France.
A game that was slow in firing up ended with a myriad of missed opportunities at either end, with clear chances for both sides in 90 minutes as well as the half hour of extra time.
IMAGE: Cristiano Ronaldo looks dejected after missing an easy chance to score. Photograph: Annegret Hilse/Reuters
France now find themselves in the semis without scoring a goal in open play at the tournament, having benefitted from two own goals and a penalty in their previous four games.
Kylian Mbappe looked uncomfortable in a mask he was wearing for a broken nose and was substituted during extra- time.
