{"id":1358044,"date":"2024-07-05T23:00:14","date_gmt":"2024-07-05T22:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1358044"},"modified":"2024-09-01T23:08:11","modified_gmt":"2024-09-01T22:08:11","slug":"portugal-france-euro-2024","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/portugal-france-euro-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Portugal 0-0 France: Les Bleus end penalty curse to reach Euro 2024 semi-final"},"content":{"rendered":"

France secured a spot in the Euro 2024<\/a> semi-finals after defeating Portugal<\/a> on penalties in tonight’s quarter-final match.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In a tense game — this was only the second European Championship match on record (since 1980) not to have a single shot from inside either box in the first half — both teams created a couple of moments apiece in the second half, which could have won it for them.<\/p>\n

A moment of individual brilliance would likely determine the outcome, but it was not to be in regulation or extra time, as the match ended goalless. Even before the dreaded shootout: four of the five Euro meetings between France and Portugal have now gone to extra time.<\/p>\n

[dugoutvideo id=”eyJrZXkiOiIiLCJwIjoic3F1YXdrYSIsInBsIjoiS25BVzdIeXgifQ==” partner=”squawka”]<\/p>\n

No sooner had the additional time begun than Cristiano Ronaldo blasted a shot into orbit from close range at Mike Maignan’s goal. He has now taken more shots than any other player at these championships (23), though is yet to score.<\/p>\n

The game ended with 35 shots, marking the most in a game that finished 0\u20130 at the UEFA European Championship since England vs. Italy in their 2012 quarterfinal (45).<\/p>\n

Jo\u00e3o F\u00e9lix missed to give Les Bleus a 5-3 win on penalties. His effort hit the woodwork. French quintet Ousmane Demb\u00e9l\u00e9, Youssouf Fofana, Jules Kound\u00e9, Bradley Barcola, and Th\u00e9o Hern\u00e1ndez all scored, while Ronaldo, Bernardo Silva, and Nuno Mendes converted for the losing quarter-finalists.<\/p>\n

The result was a watershed moment. It ended Ronaldo’s tournament, his final Euros, while breaking a 26-year curse. Before this evening, France had lost three shootouts in a row, including the 2022 World Cup final, since a triumph over Italy in their home World Cup, a game in which Didier Deschamps, the footballer, participated.<\/p>\n

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N'Golo Kant\u00e9 is the first European player to make 20+ appearances at major international tournaments and not lose a single one.<\/p>\n

WWWWWWDWWWWWDDDWDDWD<\/p>\n

More L's in his name than at tournaments for his country. ?#EURO2024<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/6gEmFpnhqx<\/a><\/p>\n

— Squawka (@Squawka) July 5, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n