Euro 2024 Ronaldo’s Final Match France Defeats Portugal 5-3 Shootout
HAMBURG, Germany (AP) — France has finally shaken off their penalty shootout curse, and Cristiano Ronaldo’s European Championship journey has come to an end.
In a thrilling match featuring soccer superstars, Kylian Mbappé led France to a semifinal against Spain by beating Portugal 5-3 in a penalty shootout after a 0-0 draw on Friday.
Portugal’s Joao Felix missed the only penalty, hitting the post, while Theo Hernández secured the win for France with a perfect shot into the top corner.
This was the last European Championship for the 39-year-old Ronaldo, who scored Portugal’s first penalty but later consoled his tearful teammate Pepe. Pepe, at 41, was emotional after the game.
“We need to get through this painful loss,” said Pepe.
Ronaldo’s 20-year career in the Euros, which included a title in 2016, might be ending as he approaches 41. It’s unclear if he’ll continue playing for Portugal until the 2026 World Cup.
“Everything is too raw right now,” said Portugal coach Roberto Martinez about Ronaldo’s future. “We’re dealing with this loss as a team — no individual decisions yet.”
This victory was significant for France, ending their streak of losing in penalty shootouts at major tournaments, including the Euros in 2021 and the World Cup final in 2022.
Mbappé didn’t take a penalty, as he was substituted after extra time due to knocks to his broken nose. Coach Didier Deschamps said Mbappé was also tired.
“It wasn’t easy,” said France goalkeeper Mike Maignan. “We didn’t always play great; it was a tough game. But we held our nerve in the shootout. We can be proud.”
Despite missing their star player, France’s Ousmane Dembele, Youssouf Fofana, Jules Kounde, and Bradley Barcola scored in the shootout. Hernández’s winning goal sparked celebrations among French fans in Hamburg.
France will play Spain in the semifinals, aiming for their third European Championship title. Although no French player has scored from open play in the tournament, the team has been solid defensively, conceding only one goal.
“We are strong in defense, which is crucial in major tournaments,” said Deschamps. “When you don’t score many goals, it’s best not to concede. But we need to score more goals.”
Portugal struggled to score in their knockout games, leaving coach Martinez with questions to answer.
“We deserved to win,” said Martinez. “But we were up against the best players in Europe. It’s a sad night for us.”