France’s players celebrated a hard-fought victory over Portugal in the UEFA Euro 2024 quarter-final match in Hamburg. After a goalless 120 minutes, France emerged victorious in a tense penalty shootout, with Theo Hernandez scoring the winning kick. The match is likely to be remembered as Cristiano Ronaldo’s last-ever appearance at the tournament. France advanced to the semi-finals to face Spain, successfully converting all their penalty kicks, while Joao Felix’s miss cost Portugal dearly.
The victory in the shoot-out marked a significant moment for France, who had previously suffered shoot-out defeats in major tournaments. The team lost the 2022 World Cup final on penalties to Argentina and exited the last Euros in a similar fashion against Switzerland in the last 16. Additionally, France had faced a penalty defeat in the 2006 World Cup final against Italy. However, this time, they held their nerve and emerged triumphant against Portugal, showcasing their mental toughness.
Kylian Mbappe, who had missed a crucial kick in the previous shoot-out against Switzerland, did not participate in the penalty shoot-out against Portugal. Despite his frustrations in the match, Mbappe’s absence did not hinder France’s performance, with players like Ousmane Dembele, Youssouf Fofana, and Jules Kounde stepping up to convert their penalties. Mbappe’s injury, a broken nose suffered in an earlier game, has somewhat hampered his form in the competition, but he will have another opportunity to shine in the upcoming semi-final.
In contrast, Cristiano Ronaldo, at 39 years old, seemed to have played his last European Championship tournament. Despite his illustrious career and tournament record tally of 14 goals, Ronaldo failed to score in Germany and was unable to lead Portugal past the quarter-finals. Portugal’s dependence on Ronaldo’s goals was evident as they struggled to find the back of the net throughout the tournament, culminating in their defeat to France in the quarter-finals. Head coach Roberto Martinez expressed disappointment with the team’s performance in what was a lackluster and uneventful match.
The quarter-final clash between Portugal and France highlighted the struggles of both teams to reach their full potential in the tournament. France, in particular, had managed to progress to the semi-finals without any of their players scoring a goal from open play. This speaks to the team’s resilience and ability to grind out results when needed. The victory over Portugal in the quarter-finals showcased France’s ability to perform under pressure and secure a place in the next round, where they will face Spain in a highly anticipated semi-final showdown.
Overall, the UEFA Euro 2024 quarter-final match between Portugal and France provided a thrilling encounter that culminated in a dramatic penalty shootout. France’s victory over Portugal marked a significant moment in their tournament journey and set the stage for an exciting semi-final clash with Spain. As Cristiano Ronaldo bid farewell to the tournament, the focus now shifts to the remaining teams vying for glory in the UEFA Euro 2024 competition. France’s resilience and composure in the shoot-out exemplify their determination to succeed on the international stage, setting the stage for a thrilling semi-final matchup.
