After a very close match, the French team emerged victorious from its Euro 2024 quarter-final against Portugal on Friday, July 5. Les Bleus had the last word after a penalty shootout (0-0, 5 TAB to 4). In the semi-final, they will meet Spain.
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Between France and Portugal, the fate of the knockout matches is often decided by very little. Penalties, a long-range strike in the final, a hellish extra time 40 years ago… That’s how it is between these two European rivals. The quarter-final of theEuro 2024 will also remain as a game where the French and the Portuguese fought hard. And at the finish, this July 5, it is on the side of the Blues that we have the smile.
To consultEuro 2024: find the calendar and results
Exceptional Maignan
To remedy his team’s offensive problems, Didier Deschamps has revised his plans once again. This time, the coach has opted for an attack with Kylian Mbappé, Antoine Griezmann and Randal Kolo Muani. And to replace the suspended Adrien Rabiot in midfield, confidence has been placed in Eduardo Camavinga. On the Portuguese side, Roberto Martinez was able to count on his best players: Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, Rafael Leao, Bernardo Silva, and of course Cristiano Ronaldo.
Despite this display of talent, the first half was very tight. Both sides did not dare to give themselves too much. Only Théo Hernandez, with a long-range shot, tested the fists of Diogo Costa, the Portuguese goalkeeper. After the break, however, the match became more lively, and the spectacle was noticeably different.
At the hour mark, the Mike Maignan show began. Facing Fernandes in the penalty area, “Magic Mike” produced a decisive header. A few moments later, the French goalkeeper was just as brilliant in thwarting Vitinha, then Ronaldo. In two minutes, the Milanese proved that he was indeed among the best last defenders in the world.
France finally victorious in penalty shootout
France also gave the Portuguese a few cold sweats: Kolo Muani was blocked in extremis by Ruben Dias, Camavinga missed the target while he was in the 6-yard box, Ousmane Dembélé – who came on in place of Griezmann – gave the Portuguese rearguard a headache… One of his shots flirted with the right-hand corner of Costa’s goal. Again and again, this clumsiness and lack of realism that have been haunting the French in recent weeks.
Due to a lack of goals, this tense match went into extra time. Despite his fatigue and his 41 years, Pepe had the legs to stop the blue-white-red attacks. Ronaldo, poorly served, sent a shot into the clouds, while Dayot Upamecano found himself in the way of a point-blank shot from Leao. Opposite, Dembélé, Thuram and Barcola – who came on in place of Kolo Muani and Mbappé – continued to miss the target with their attempts.
It was therefore necessary to go through the inevitable and oh-so-stressful penalty shootout to find a winner in this tight quarter-final. An exercise in which there is necessarily at least one unfortunate player. And at the end of the night, this terrible role fell to João Félix, who sent his attempt onto the post. He alone failed, precipitating the defeat of his team (0-0, 5 TAB to 4). For the first time since the quarter-final of the 1998 World Cup against Italy, France emerged victorious from a penalty shootout. They now have a date with Spain in the last four of Euro 2024.