Portugal and France Faced Off in Euro 2024 Quarterfinals: A Penalty Shootout Decided the Match
Portugal and France met in the quarterfinals of Euro 2024, with both teams aiming to secure a spot in the semi-finals. The match took place at Volksparkstadion in Hamburg, Germany, on July 5, 2024. Kickoff was set for 9 p.m. CET local time.
The first half of the game saw few chances created by either team, with Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo and France's Kylian Mbappé struggling to make an impact. The teams went into halftime locked at 0-0, with neither side able to find a breakthrough.
The second half continued in much the same vein, with both goalkeepers Mike Maignan of France and Diogo Costa of Portugal producing impressive saves to keep their respective teams in the game. The match went into extra time still goalless.
However, it was during the penalty shootout that fortune favored France. Both teams managed to score their first four penalties, but when it came down to João Felix for Portugal and Kylian Mbappé for France, the latter converted while Felix missed. This gave France a 5-3 advantage in the shootout and secured their place in the semi-finals.
Portugal's exit from Euro 2024 marked an end to Cristiano Ronaldo's dreams of advancing further in the tournament. The Portuguese team had gone 364 minutes without scoring a goal in open play, and their penalty miss proved costly.
France, on the other hand, will face Spain in the semi-finals of Euro 2024. Diogo Costa had saved all three penalties he faced in the previous round against Slovenia, but France prevailed this time with a huge slice of fortune.
Sources: [1] The Guardian: Portugal 0-0 France (aet; 3-5 on pens): Euro 2024 quarter-final – as it happened [2] Al Jazeera: France beat Portugal 5-3 on penalties: UEFA Euro 2024 – as it happened [3] Independent: Portugal v France LIVE: Result and reaction as France end penalty shootout hoodoo