/”France contends with Portugal and wins 5-3 in shootout after a scoreless match in the European Championship quarter-finals last Friday. Not wavering under pressure, the French team remained composed, converting all their penalty kicks and whittling away at the competition. The win was brought to an excellent conclusion by Theo Hernandez who netted the successful shot following Joao Felix of Portugal hitting the post on their third try.
This win ushers France into the semi-finals where they will confront Spain this coming Tuesday in Munich. It was a bitter defeat for Portugal, likely marking the end of Cristiano Ronaldo’s two-decade-long international career. Even though Ronaldo managed to score on the first kick in the shootout, he also was accountable for one of numerous misfires throughout the match.
For France, this triumph sweetens the disappointment of their last Euro tournament where they were defeated by Switzerland in penalties in the round of 16 and in the 2022 World Cup final against Argentina. Members of the victorious French side, Ousmane Dembele, Youssouf Fofana, Jules Kounde and Bradley Barcola, all successfully scored their penalty shots.
The match, initially slow to ignite, culminated in a flurry of squandered opportunities on both sides with the game remaining scoreless even after extra time. France finds themselves progressing to the semi-finals without scoring a goal during regular play in the whole tournament, their earlier games having been scored via two own goals and a penalty kick.”/