Euro24 : France dash Portugal & Ronaldo's dreams in tie breaker after a goalless 120 minutes


 

Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portuguese team exited the Euro 2024 as defeated heroes, falling to France in a tie-breaker. Despite Diego Costa's heroic penalty saves in the previous match, he couldn't rescue Portugal in the quarter-finals. Portugal's Euro 2024 campaign ended in the last eight, likely marking the end of Ronaldo's long journey in the tournament.


Friday night's quarter-final was a mixed experience for both teams. The political situation in France may have weighed heavily on the minds of their footballers, with the fear of displacement looming if Marine Le Pen were to come to power. Many non-French players worried about their families' futures. Meanwhile, Portugal played with a determination to give Ronaldo a fitting send-off. Players like Pepe and Bruno Fernandes vowed to give their all to end Ronaldo's era on a high note.


However, determination off the field doesn't always translate into success on it. The first half of the match in Hamburg saw both heavyweight teams evenly matched but lacking creativity in the final third. Ronaldo and Mbappe both appeared indifferent, failing to bring their best to the field. As a result, neither goalkeeper was significantly challenged in the first half.


The second half, however, saw a shift in momentum. Portugal started aggressively and confidently. Bruno Fernandes had two good chances, but he couldn't capitalize on them. Ronaldo also had an opportunity, but his shot was blocked by France's goalkeeper Mike Maignan. The game then swung in France's favour, with their forwards missing two easy chances in the 66th and 71st minutes, squandered by Kalomuani and Kamavinga, respectively. 


With neither team able to score in the regulation 90 minutes, the match went into extra time. The stalemate continued through the additional 30 minutes, leading to a penalty shootout. France triumphed 5-3 in the shootout, with Joao Felix missing a crucial penalty for Portugal. France will now face Spain in the semi-finals.

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