Victory on penalties

LIVE from 9pm: Portugal vs France

Kylian Mbappe (right) sends Cristiano Ronaldo into retirement for the European Championship.

(Bild: AFP or licensors, APA/AFP/Angelos Tzortzinis)

France are through to the European Championship semi-finals! The French defeated Portugal on penalties (0:0 after extra time). Kylian Mbappé also won the star duel against Cristiano Ronaldo, sending the 39-year-old into retirement.

"This is undoubtedly my last European Championship," Ronaldo had already announced after the round of 16 match against Slovenia. The "Equipe Tricolore" will face Spain in the semi-final clash in Munich on Tuesday (21:00).

The French converted all five of their attempts in the penalty shoot-out against Diogo Costa, who was Portugal's hero in the round of 16 against Slovenia, saving three penalties. After Joao Felix had only hit the bar, Theo Hernandez shot the favorites to victory.

Minimalists
France are in the top four with an incredible record: the star ensemble has not scored a single goal of its own in five games, a converted penalty from Kylian Mbappe and two own goals had put the two-time European champions into the quarter-finals.

Great jubilation for France

(Bild: Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

"Lawn chess"
The 50,000 spectators in Hamburg's Volksparkstadion witnessed the kind of "turf chess" that both teams have played in the tournament so far: defensively compact, intent on possession and slow to build up play. The high-caliber strikers on both sides, led by superstars Mbappe and Cristiano Ronaldo respectively, could not be put in the spotlight for long periods. The only shot on goal before the break came from defender Hernandez (20th) from distance, but there were no chances at all.

(Bild: APA/AFP/JAVIER SORIANO)

Mbappe took center stage in the second half. The future Real Madrid striker fired a shot on goal (50'), failed to deal with a Hernandez delivery (52') and doubled over in pain after a ball to the face from a broken nose suffered in the opening game of the European Championship against Austria (55'). Mbappe finally left the pitch at half-time of extra time.

(Bild: APA/AFP/PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA)

After an hour, the game suddenly came to life. Portugal began to look dangerous. Bruno Fernandes (61') and Rafael Leao (63') had the opening goal at their feet, but were denied by goalkeeper Mike Maignan. At the other end, a shot from Randal Kolo Muani was just blocked (66'), Eduardo Camavinga missed by a few centimeters (70'), as did Ousmane Dembele (74').

(Bild: Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Ronaldo also made his first appearance at the start of extra time, but his shot was wide of the target (93'). Leao (102), substitute Joao Felix (108) and Nuno Mendes (120) created further danger, but the "blue bunker", as "L'Équipe" called the defensive bulwark of Didier Deschamps' squad, held firm. France have only conceded one goal from a penalty so far and are still in the running for their third European Championship title.

Portugal - France 0-0 after extra time, 3-5 on penalties
Hamburg, Volksparkstadion, 50,000 spectators, referee Oliver (ENG)

Penalty shoot-out:
0:1 - Dembele scores, 1:1 - Ronaldo scores, 1:2 - Fofana scores, 2:2 - B. Silva scores, 2:3 - Kounde scores, 2:3 - Felix hits the bar, 2:4 - Barcola scores, 3:4 - Mendes scores, 3:5 - Hernandez scores.

Portugal: Costa - Cancelo (74. Semedo), Pepe, Dias, Mendes - Vitinha (119. Nunes), Palhinha (90.+2 Neves), Fernandes (74. Conceicao) - B. Silva, Ronaldo, Leao (106. Felix)

France: Maignan - Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, T. Hernandez - Kante, Tchouameni, Camavinga (91. Fofana) - Griezmann (67. Dembele) - Kolo Muani (86. Thuram), Mbappe (106. Barcola)

Yellow cards: Palhinha and Saliba respectively