France secured their fifth semi-final appearance at the UEFA European Championships by defeating Portugal in a tense penalty shootout in Hamburg. The match saw Portugal slightly edge the first half, but despite periods of possession, they couldn’t create clearcut chances. A key moment came in the 43rd minute when Cristiano Ronaldo stepped aside for Bruno Fernandes, whose free-kick failed to find the target.
In the second half, Kylian Mbappe came alive but couldn’t beat Diogo Costa. As the game progressed, both sides missed significant opportunities. Portugal’s Fernandes and Vitinha were denied by France’s Mike Maignan, while Ruben Dias blocked Randal Kolo Muani’s shot and Eduardo Camavinga missed the target for France. The match remained goalless, leading to extra time.
During extra time, Ronaldo missed a critical chance, blazing over the bar from a promising position. Surprisingly, France substituted Mbappe for Bradley Barcola, and Mbappe watched as Nuno Mendes forced Maignan into a crucial save in the dying moments, ensuring the match would be decided by penalties.
In the shootout, Joao Felix hit the post for Portugal, while France converted all five of their spot-kicks. This victory sets up a thrilling semi-final clash between France and Spain.
Source: ghmediahub
