France edge past Portugal with penalty shoot-out win after stalemate

France progressed into the Euro 2024 semi-finals as defender Theo Hernandez scored the winning spot-kick in a penalty shoot-out against Portugal.

A goalless match always looked destined to be decided by penalties as the defences prevailed.

Portugal substitute Joao Felix was the only player to be denied during the shoot-out after rattling the post.

Portugal were confident going into the shoot-out after progressing into the quarter-finals after beating Slovenia on penalties following another goalless draw.

However, France were perfect from the penalty spot with Theo Hernandez, Bradley Barcola, Jules Kounde, Youssouf Fofana and Ousmane Dembele all netting to send them through.

It took over an hour for a notable opportunity when French goalkeeper Mike Maignan was twice forced into action to deny both Bruno Fernandes and Vitinha.

As the game headed towards full-time substitute Ousmane Dembele added extra emphasis into the French attack and found Eduardo Camavinga in space, but he fired wide.

Felix could have sealed victory for Portugal in extra-time but fired into the side-netting and then rattled the woodwork from a decisive penalty kick.

Player of the Match – William Saliba (France)

Portugal asked questions of the French defence with some dangerous balls into their opposition’s penalty area.

However, Saliba was equal to everything which was thrown his way and left Ronaldo feeding off scraps.

France have conceded just one goal in five Euro 2024 matches but will face a fluent Spanish side who are sure to test them further in the semi-final.

Player Ratings

Portugal: Costa 7, Cancelo 7, Pepe 8, Dias 7, Mendes 7, Vitinha 7, Palhinha 6, Fernandes 6, Silva 6, Ronaldo 6, Leao 7

Subs: Conceicao 7, Felix 6, R Neves 6, Nunes 6, Semedo 6

France: Maignan 8, Kounde 7, Upamecano 7, Saliba 8, Hernandez 8, Kante 7, Tchouameni 7, Camavinga 6 , Griezmann 6, Kolo Muani 6, Mbappe 7

Subs: Barcola 7, Dembele 7, Fofana 6, Thuram 6

Match Highlights

61 – MAIGNAN SAVES FRANCE

Cancelo feeds the ball perfectly into the path of Fernandes who is denied by an excellent Maignan save down low. The rebound falls for Cancelo, who fires over.

Leao on the overlap this time finds Vitinha open inside the box whose effort is denied by a close-range Maignan stop. Ronaldo almost connects with the rebound on the goal-line, but France just about clear.

70 – CAMAVINGA GOLDEN CHANCE

Substitute Dembele words the ball inside the box out wide and then threads it through to Camavinga yards out from goal. However, he sends his effort just wide of the post when the Frenchman should have scored

93- HAS RONALDO LOST HIS MAGIC?

Conceicao gets past his man at the byline and cuts it back into the path of Ronaldo who blazes his effort wide. It’s the star’s first chance of the game and he rushed it.

107 – SIDE-NETTING FOR FELIX

An excellent run and floated ball into the air by Conceicao for Felix who coming in at the back post sends his effort into the side-netting. The substitute should have scored a very important goal.

PENALTIES – FELIX HITS POST

Substitute Felix beats the goalkeeper but rattles the post with his penalty kick.

PENALTIES – HERNANDEZ SCORES AND FRANCE WIN

Hernandez sends his penalty into the bottom corner to win the shootout