France booked a semi-final date with Spain in Munich on Tuesday after beating Portugal in a penalty shoot in Stuttgart.
After a low-key first hour, the sport solely got here to life within the last half-hour of regular time with each side creating probabilities which ought to actually have seen the impasse damaged.
Because it was they might not be separated by 90 minutes, or extra-time and the sport went to penalties
FRANCE WIN ON PENALTIES! 🇫🇷#BBCEuros #Euro2024 #PORFRA pic.twitter.com/0m18qR0wam
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 5, 2024
Having saved all three Slovenia penalties within the Spherical of 16 shootout in Frankfurt on Monday, Portugal Diogo Costa was crushed by Ousmane Dembele from the primary try.
Cristiano Ronaldo discovered the side-netting to beat Mike Maignan and degree the scores however Youssef Fofana fired down the center to place France again forward.
Bernardo Silva whipped into the top-corner to make it 2-2 earlier than Jules Kounde did likewise to place France in entrance.
Joao Felix dragged his shot into the bottom of the publish permitting Bradley Barcola to coolly slot France 4-2 forward.
Nuno Mendes discovered the roof of the online to maintain the shootout going however Theo Hernandez stepped-up to put the ball within the high nook to spark wild celebrations for a rustic which misplaced on penalties at Euro 2020 and within the 2022 World Cup Last.
France attain the last-four and not using a French participant having scored a purpose from open play in 5 matches in Germany – the primary aspect to try this in Euros historical past.
The shootout introduced an finish to Cristiano Ronaldo’s European Championship profession after showing in a document six tournaments whereas 41-year-old Pepe was dropped at tears after a virtuoso defensive show which belied his years.
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Insipid first half fare
Possibilities had been at a premium within the first half and Randal Kolo Muani cut-back to no person after being discovered neatly within the Portugal space by Antoine Griezmann early-on whereas Rafael Leao despatched Nuno Mendes free with a beautiful backheel on the left however his cross was poor and evaded everybody.
🤤#EURO2024 | #PORFRA pic.twitter.com/LZwHuinN75
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) July 5, 2024
Bruno Fernandes noticed a 25-yard drive deflect broad off William Saliba on 16 minutes however regardless of the strain constructing and a collection of corners, they failed to bother Mike Maignan within the France purpose.
Theo Hernandez noticed a swerving piledrive from outdoors the realm crushed away by Diogo Costa on the different finish on 20 minutes, whereas the keeper pushed out a low cross from Kylian Mbappe from the left quickly after.
Griezmann’s curling free-kick into the realm from the left flank was properly handled by the Portugal defence whereas Leao danced previous Jules Kounde to the byline earlier than seeing a cut-back cleared for Portugal’s fifth nook on 27 minutes.
Eduardo Camavinga lashed excessive and broad from lengthy vary for France whereas there was a shock as Bruno Fernandes whipped a free-kick over the angle of publish and bar from simply outdoors the penalty space on 42 minutes, with Cristiano Ronaldo standing close by as a decoy.
The primary half ended and not using a shot inside the realm from both aspect.
Extra probabilities after the turnaround
Mbappe fired straight at Diogo Costa early within the second half whereas Nuno Mendes went flying underneath a problem from Dayot Upamecano within the space however failed to select up the reserving he deserved for diving from referee Michael Oliver.
Hernandez fizzed a low cross throughout the face of Portugal’s purpose from the left however there was no person there to faucet it in whereas Camavinga got here to the rescue with a last-ditch sort out as Leao bore down on purpose from the left touchline on the hour as the sport lastly sprung to life.
Magic Mike!#EURO2024 | #PORFRA pic.twitter.com/byCU0mYY2P
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) July 5, 2024
Fernandes was denied by a robust hand from Maignon after being performed in down the suitable of the realm by Joao Cancelo’s move, and Cancelo himself fired astray as he tried to bend into the highest nook from an angle quickly after.
Maignon produced a response save to disclaim Vitinha’s close-range shot from Leao’s move moments later, whereas Ronaldo’s tried back-heel within the aftermath was scrambled behind.
That block 😤#EURO2024 | #PORFRA pic.twitter.com/idgZ0zfMKT
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) July 5, 2024
After a neat ball excessive, Kolo Muani was denied by a determined sliding block by Ruben Dias with the purpose at his mercy, the deflection bouncing inches previous the far publish, whereas Mbappe was thwarted by a block from Nuno Mendes seconds later.
Griezmann was withdrawn after a quiet show on 66 minutes however nearly instantly his substitute Ousmane Dembele drove to the byline and noticed his cross deflected to Camavinga who dragged his shot throughout the face of purpose when he ought to have completed higher.
Dembele continued to make an influence as he curled narrowly previous the highest nook on 73 minutes.
Joao Palinha was cautioned for a lunge on Mbappe on 79 minutes – ruling him out of the semi-final had been his aspect to make it.
Saliba adopted him into the e book moments later after blocking the marauding sub Francisco Conceicao on the sting of the field, although Ronaldo smashed his angled free-kick straight into the wall.
Him once more 😤#EURO2024 | #PORFRA https://t.co/oZEp5UY2Z5 pic.twitter.com/Xuukyc64pH
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) July 5, 2024
Ngolo Kante twice flashed efforts straight at Diogo Costa within the dying minutes of regular time whereas on the different finish Saliba blocked a Bernardo Silva drive fantastically.
The final likelihood of regular time noticed Mbappe curl straight on the keeper from the sting of the field.
Lower than three minutes into further time Conceicao drove down the suitable and pulled again for Ronaldo who blazed properly over the bar from eight yards out with the purpose at his mercy – his look forward to a purpose at an 11th worldwide event persevering with.
Dembele slalomed his approach 60 yards ahead with the ball earlier than offloading to Mbappe who noticed a shot blocked by evergreen Pepe earlier than sub Marcus Thuram lashed astray.
On the different finish Leao noticed a half-volley blocked as defences remained on high whereas Conceicao scooped properly over the crossbar earlier than the interval.
After the turnaround Joao Felix headed into the aspect netting as he ran to satisfy Conceicao’s lofted cross whereas Dembele drove in the direction of the field earlier than lashing over the woodwork.
Bernardo Silva squared to Nuno Mendes who might solely shoot straight at Maignan within the dying seconds as the sport went to spot-kicks.
