A boring first half, followed by an end-to-end second and then 30 more minutes of tired legs running around. We needed a penalty shootout for France to go through to the semifinal and to send Portugal packing. Sportsdunia brings you Portugal vs France Highlights!
After this result, the first Euro 2024 semifinal has been decided – France vs Spain!
Portugal vs France Highlights
45′ FIRST HALF ENDS! Well, that’s 45 minutes done and that’s the only thing that can be said about this game so far. Utterly underwhelming first half with no action whatsoever.
67′ SUBSTITUTIONS: First change in the game is from France with Antoine Griezmann making way for Ousmane Dembele.
67′ BLOCKED! Kylian Mbappe comes close to scoring but his shot is blocked.
70′ MISS! Eduardo Camavinga – how have you missed that? Inside the six yard box and he somehow has his shot go across the goal despite beating the goalkeeper.
74′ SUBSTITUTIONS: Portugal are making two changes and it is Bruno Fernandes making way for Franciso Conceicao and Joao Cancelo off for Nelson Semedo.
79′ YELLOW CARD: Joao Palhinha is the first player to be booked today and it is a controversial one. He hardly touches Mbappe but the referee gives a foul.
84′ YELLOW CARD: William Saliba is the first Frenchman to be shown the card today after he sticks an arm across Francisco Conceicao.
86′ SUBSTITUTION: Randal Kolo Muani’s game is done and he makes way for Marcus Thuram, whose father is watching on from the stands.
90′ + 2′ SUBSTITUTION: Joao Palhinha is taken off and Ruben Neves is introduced by Portugal.
FULL TIME: We are goalless after the end of the 90 minutes and the referee has blown for extra time.
91′ SUBSTITUTION: Youssouf Fofana is the next Frenchman coming on today and he replaces Edouard Camavinga, who will be still thinking about his chance.
93′ MISS! How has Cristiano Ronaldo missed that?! Francisco Conceicao does an excellent job and pulls the ball back for the forward, but the ball is outside the stadium.
106′ SUBSTITUTIONS: Both side makes changes as we head into the final 15 minutes of extra time. Joao Felix replaces Rafael Leao for Portugal, while France counter it with Brdley Barcola coming on for Kylian Mbappe!
119′ SUBSTITUTION: Portugal make a final change with Vitinha coming off for Matheus Nunes. Going defensive or preparing for the shootout?
120′ THAT’S IT! We are off to the penalty shootout to determine who goes through after a goalless 120 minutes.
PENALTY SHOOTOUT:
Ousmane Dembele steps up…SCORES! He has sent Diogo Costa the wrong way. Shootout score France 1-0 Portugal.
Cristiano Ronaldo has taken his place at the edge of the box and he slots in his effort past a diving Maignan. Shootout score France 1-1 Portugal.
Youssouf Fofana is the next up for France and he scores! Straight down the middle as Costa jumps to his right. Shootout score France 2-1 Portugal.
Bernardo Silva with a top-notch penalty to make it 2-2! Maignan goes the right way again, but the shot is powerful and above him – giving him no chance. Shootout score France 2-2 Portugal.
Jules Kounde steps up and smashes it into the top corner. Costa jumps the right way finally, but no chance of him getting to the ball. Shootout score France 3-2 Portugal.
Joao Felix MISSES! His shot comes off the post and it has given Shootout score France 3-2 Portugal.
Bradley Barcola has the chance to extend France’s lead and he SCORES! Sends Costa the wrong way and the 2016 champions are on the verge of heading out. Shootout score France 4-2 Portugal.
Nuno Mendes has the chance to keep Portugal in the game and he produces a stunning penalty! Into the top corner and Maignan is diving the wrong side. Shootout score France 4-3 Portugal.
Theo Hernandez steps up to take the final penalty for France and he….SCORES! Diogo Costa goes from 3 saved in the last game to all 5 conceded in this one and France are through!
Shootout score France 5-3 Portugal.
Player of the Match
We can’t decide between Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga, as both of these Real Madrid midfielders were excellent against Portugal, and hence, both of these players are our picks for the player of the match
Key Stats
- Cristiano Ronaldo has only scored three goals in 20 knockout matches across the World Cup and European Championships since Euro 2004, that is the same number as Zinedine Zidane, who retired in 2006.
- France will play in their sixth UEFA European Championship semi-final, with only Germany (8) ever contesting more.
- France have now reached at least the semi-final in four of the last five major tournaments (World Cup/EUROS), failing only at Euro 2020 (round of 16). This is at least twice as many semi-finals as any other European nation since Euro 2016 (Croatia, England, Spain all on 2).
- Having only been eliminated from two of their first eight major tournament quarter-finals (World Cup/Euro), Portugal have since been knocked out at this round in both the 2022 World Cup and at Euro 2024.
Key Moment
Roberto Martinez has to take the blame for this loss as he opted to bring on Joao Felix instead of Diogo Jota. The substitution in the 106th minute did not change anything in their favor in extra time, and it also proved costly in the penalty shootout as Felix missed his chance.
Conclusion
Both teams have not been at their best this summer and needed a lot of luck to even reach the quarter-final. Today things went in favor of France as they will now take on Spain in the Euro 2024 semi-final!