Cristiano Ronaldo’s Euro 2024 hopes were dashed as Portugal lost 5-3 to France in a penalty shootout following Friday’s 0-0 draw in Hamburg. With the substituted Kylian Mbappe watching on from the sidelines, Les Bleus set up a semi-final with Spain as they converted all five of their spot-kicks.
CRISTIANO RONALDO’S record breaking Euros career is over, this last outing is remembered only for tears.
His sixth Euros, brought to an end by France on penalties, did not bring a goal, just a missed spot kick against Slovenia and some famous waterworks.
France’s heartache in penalty shootouts is over. So is Cristiano Ronaldo’s last-ever European Championship.
In a clash of the soccer superstars, it was Kylian Mbappé — and not Ronaldo, his idol — advancing to a semifinal match against Spain as France beat Portugal 5-3 in a shootout following a 0-0 draw on Friday.
Portugal substitute Joao Felix hit a post with the only miss in the shootout and Theo Hernández showed no sign of pressure by converting the clinching kick into the top corner.
It was a record sixth and final European Championship for the 39-year-old Ronaldo, who scored Portugal’s first penalty in the shootout and ended up consoling fellow veteran Pepe afterward as the 41-year-old defender cried on his captain’s shoulder.
“We need to go through this moment of our loss, which is very painful,” Pepe said.
Ronaldo’s 20-year carer in the Euros included the title in 2016 — when Portugal beat France in the final — and it remains to be seen if the five-time world player of the year will continue playing for his country through to the 2026 World Cup, when he will be aged 41.
France beats Portugal 5-3 in a penalty shootout in Euro 2024 quarterfinals to knock out Ronaldo
After the tied game finished 0-0, Portugal substitute João Félix hit a post with the only miss in the shootout and Théo Hernandez converted the clinching kick. France will now play Spain in the semifinals after its extra-time win over Germany in Stuttgart.
France advanced to the Euro 2024 semifinals after defeating Portugal 5-3 in a penalty shootout following a 0-0 draw in regular and extra time. The match, held in Hamburg, Germany, saw both teams struggle to break the deadlock despite their attacking prowess.
In the shootout, Joao Felix’s missed penalty proved crucial, as he struck the post with Portugal’s third attempt. France converted all five of their penalties, with Theo Hernández scoring the decisive kick.
This result marks the end of Cristiano Ronaldo’s European Championship career, as the 39-year-old Portuguese captain had previously confirmed that Euro 2024 would be his last appearance in the tournament. Ronaldo, who holds the record for most European Championship appearances, was unable to add to his goal tally in what became his final Euros match.
Add A Comment