Theo Hernandez scored the winning kick as France edged a tense Euro 2024 quarter-final clash with Portugal 5-3 on penalties after a goalless 120 minutes on Friday night.
France were successful with all their penalties as they advanced to a last-four showdown with Spain, while Portugal’s Joao Felix was the only player to miss, sending his team’s third kick against the post.
It was overdue success in a shoot-out for France after they lost the 2022 World Cup final on penalties to Argentina and went out of the last Euros three years ago in the same way, against Switzerland in the last 16.
They also lost on penalties in the last major tournament in Germany, going down to Italy in the final of the 2006 World Cup.
Kylian Mbappe, who missed the crucial kick against the Swiss, was already off the pitch by the time this shoot-out came around, having been replaced by Bradley Barcola midway through extra time.
Barcola, Ousmane Dembele, Youssouf Fofana, and Jules Kounde also scored from the spot for France.
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France coach Didier Deschamps said: “I am proud of my players. Even if we are not doing everything perfectly we don’t give up.
“Once again we are in the semi-finals. I will savour this a little even if we have another game coming up.”
Mbappe endured a frustrating evening as he continues to search for his best form in the competition but appears inhibited while wearing a mask to protect the nose he broke against Austria in France’s opening game.
At least he will get another chance to star in the semi-final, while Cristiano Ronaldo, at 39, appears to have played at a Euros for the last time.
This has been his sixth European Championship, but he failed to add to his tournament record tally of 14 goals in Germany after misfiring in all of Portugal’s five matches.
He scored his penalty, Portugal’s first, but Roberto Martinez’s team went out having failed to find the net in over six hours of football.
They beat Slovenia on penalties in the last 16 after a goalless draw, but this time fell short in what was a disappointing game in Hamburg.
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