EURO 2024 Updates: France conquer its way to the Semis, Portugal dismissal from the EUROs

France made their way to the Semifinals! In a tense game between France and Portugal, according to the search results, France defeated Portugal 5-3 in a penalty shootout after their Euro 2024 quarterfinal match ended 0-0 in regulation and extra time.

Both teams gave their all for this match, more than 60% of time the possession of ball was with the Portuguese team. Both the team received a yellow card, from France William Saliba and from Portugal Joao Palhinha within a time period of 6 minutes. Both the team was unable to shoot a goal during the full-time match, both took the shot for 5 times. While there were 5 fouls from Portugal, France was fouled 10 times. This match led to the end of Portugal journey in the UEFA EURO cup 2024. Two main star player performance in the faceoff:

Christiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo failed to score in the match, which ended 0-0 after extra time before France won 5-3 on penalties. Ronaldo took the first penalty for Portugal in the shootout, which he converted, but Portugal ultimately lost the shootout. Ronaldo had performed shockingly anonymous in the match, managing just 26 touches – the lowest of any starter other than the goalkeepers. He struggled to get involved in the game, with most of his touches coming in harmless positions out wide rather than in dangerous areas. Ronaldo’s aerial presence was also limited, as he contested just one aerial duel in the match. Prior to the quarterfinal, Ronaldo had attempted a tournament-high 20 shots at Euro 2024 without scoring.

At 39 years old, this was likely Ronaldo’s last European Championship tournament. He still is the all-time top scorer in European Championship history with 14 goals on his name. However, Ronaldo failed to score in either of Portugal’s knockout matches at Euro 2024, with his team exiting the tournament despite being considered a pre-tournament favourite. This likely marked the end of Ronaldo’s glorious career in the European Championship

Kylian Mbappe

Kylian Mbappé did not take a penalty in the shootout, as he was substituted in the 113th minute of extra time due to fatigue. France coach Didier Deschamps said Mbappé asked to be taken off because he was struggling with muscle fatigue and the injury to his nose. In the absence of Mbappe, France managed to convert all five of their penalties to win the shootout 5-3. The other French penalty takers were not named in the search results provided. Portugal’s João Félix hit the post with one of their penalties

Statement of Roberto Martinez

He is a Spanish professional football manager and former football player, he is currently serving the Portugal national football team as a head coach. When asked about Ronaldo’s retirement -He replied that, “Everyone is too raw” and “We are suffering defeat as a team- there are no individual decisions at this point”. Fans are blaming Roberto for bad team management and draining out 39y/o Ronaldo’s energy by making him play for the whole match and not giving him a break.

France will face Spain in the Semifinals of the EURO Cup 2024 on Wednesday, 10^th July in Munich Football Arena, Munich.