Portugal 0-0 France - Euro 2024 RECAP: Les Bleus WIN on penalties after Ronaldo missed big chance

So, there we are. France will play Spain in the semi-finals.

It's fair to say, their win over Portugal was not a classic, they needed penalties to get the job done in the end.

Quit frankly., Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal were the better side in what was a game that lacked quality at times, and that cutting edge.

But Joao Felix hitting the post in the shootout has sent them crashing out after France made no mistake in any of their five spot kicks.

I think it's about time I say goodbye now.

Another day of European Championship football has passed, and now there is just one more sleep until we have to watch England in action.

Can they follow in France's footsteps... We will have to wait and see.

In the meantime, get some rest, and I will see you all tomorrow.

Want to hear a different reporter's opinion? Of course, you do!

Mail Sport's Matt Barlow had to sit through all of that in Hamburg (I feel for him), and he has given us his verdict.

I don't want to ruin his match story whatsoever, so no hints at what he said from me.

You'll just have to go check it out, won't you?

To read what he wrote, click below:

Jose Fonte, Euro 2016 winner with Portugal, on BBC One:

I thought Portugal were the better team, France too negative but at the end of the day you've got to score to win it. If you let it go to penalties it's 50/50, it can go both ways.

This has to be the best Man of the Match award ceremony of the tournament so far, surely?

They even made him drink water from the trophy. You just love to see it.

I'm surprised he won the award, though. Maybe they felt they had to give it to a Frenchman, so just chose him.

It avoids the awkward post-match photo that Luka Modic gave after Croatia were virtually knocked out by Italy, I guess.

Now this statistic has stunned me.

Joao Felix's miss is the only penalty France have faced in a shootout that has not hit the back of the net out of the last 18 they have faced.

Tonight's shootout win was their first since 1998...

I mean, those runs always come to an end, but there was never a narrative that they were in one.

Incredible stuff.

These statistics are deceptive.

I never in a million years would have guessed France had 20 shots in that match, and in doing so, have more than Portugal.

Portugal were the better side and it felt like they created the better chances.

Even so, it wasn't the most thrilling match.

But these stats don't really matter. It went to penalties, and France scored all of theirs.

Still, they are interesting reading.

Anonymous: Portugal need to move on now from Ronaldo. He’s been a brilliant player but it’s over.

Anthony, Doncaster: Even though Portugal are out Pepe has been the player of the tournament for me what a legend and an ambassador for sport. He is 41 for goodness sake.

JB, Middlesbrough: Are France the most boring team to ever reach a semi-final?

Any Portugal fans reading this, look away.

This is the moment Theo Hernandez secured France's spot in the semi-finals.

In truth, he never looked like missing as he approached the spot, did he?

As cool as you like.

Chris Sutton, It's All Kicking Off! co-host, on BBC Radio 5 Live:

The performance wasn't there, but the penalties were quite incredible. The last one the pressure was on Theo Hernandez - he sent Diogo Costa the wrong way.

France did not deserve to go through and they have been bang average in this competition, it is about finding a way in tournament football. Didier Deschamps stumbles through again.

It's hard to know what to think when it comes to France.

They have been extremely underwhelming this tournament, yet they have made the last four.

They are yet to score a goal from open play, two of their three goals have been own goals, and they have yet to really get going.

But I guess none of that really matters.

If this is them while they are struggling, what is going to happen when everything clicks?

A scary prospect.

Jose Fonte, Euro 2016 winner with Portugal, on BBC One:

They [Pepe and Ronaldo] probably know it's the end of the line in the national team. I don't know [if it will be for both]. Where do you go from here?

They have done so much for Portugal, sometimes you have to give a place to the young boys coming up, make them show their talent. They have done great.

It's hard not to feel for Pepe here.

He will know it's now the end of the road for him in major international tournament football.

The defender just can't hold back the tears, and Cristiano Ronaldo comforts him.

The end of an era.

Have we just seen Cristiano Ronaldo in a major international tournament for the last time?

Who knows.

What we do know is with that result, it is unlikely he will play in a European Championship fixture ever again.

It just wasn't his tournament this time around, he failed to score in any of his five matches.

He seems to be taking the loss well, at the moment.

So now we have our first semi-final.

It's pure joy for the French as they continue to celebrate their progression to the semi-finals.

Who will they face I hear you ask?

They will do battle with Spain in Munich on Tuesday. I'm already looking forward to it.

For now, though, they will party.

'Freed From Desire' is blasting over the speakers and the French are having a party.

It's euphoria for Didier Deschamps' side, they have kept their dreams alive by the skin of their teeth.

I mean, their penalties were sensational.

Theo Hernandez approaches the ball.

If he scores, France are through to the semi-final...

HERNANDEZ HAS DONE IT. FRANCE ARE THROUGH!

Nuno Mendes is up for Portugal. Miss, and Portugal are out.

He has to score... and he does with a spectacular spot kick into the top corner.

They stay alive.

Now Bradley Barcola has the chance to give France a two-goal advantage in the shootout.

And he does so with ease.

Cool, calm, collected.

Now the pressure is on Joao Felix...

OH HE'S HIT THE POST!

Jules Kounde looks nervous as he approaches the spot...

But my word he doesn't show it, he smashes the ball into the top left corner.

Bernardo Silva next.

What a penalty that is, straight into the top right corner.

Best one yet.

Youssouf Fofana is up next for the French.

He plants the ball down and goes straight down the middle.

2-1 France.

Now it's the turn of Cristiano Ronaldo.

He takes a big run-up, stutters, and beats Mike Maignan!

Great penalty.

Ousmane Dembele is the first man to the spot.

Diogo Costa stares him down as he plants the ball down.

It doesn't work, Dembele scores...

The Portugal fans cheer, the penalties will be in front of them.

So, advantage Portugal.

Will the France takers be able to deal with that added pressure?

Only time will tell...

I bet Diogo Costa is a confident man right now.

He saved all three penalties against Slovenia, he has magic in his hands.

Plus, Portugal are brilliant when it comes to shootouts. I'm backing them to do it again.

Penalties it is!

Now this is what we have been waiting for, penalties are the ultimate drama in international football.

Which side will get the job done?

Oh my word, Portugal fluff their lines right at the death!

Bernardo Silva is sent through in acres of space but hesitates on the ball for too long.

The French defence flood back, and he passes to Nuno Mendes, who fires straight into the arms of Mike Maignan.

Late drama.

Is this a substitution for the penalty shootout?

Matheus Nunes is entering proceedings with less than 90 seconds left, replacing Vitinha.

He better hope he doesn't miss if they make it to the shootout.

I'm pretty sure the Portugal fans have not stopped singing the same song during the whole of extra-time.

Wait, they have now...

Why? Because they want to boo the fact that Cristiano Ronaldo fouls Dayot Upamecano while trying to perform a scissor kick from a corner.

Never change, Cristiano.

Bradley Barcola does everything right as he dances through the Portugal defence into the box.

But it's fair to say his finish leaves a little to be desired. He blasts the ball high and wide.

Ousmane Dembele is the only France player making a real go of this match.

He produces another brilliant run but it ends up in a poor strike which sails miles over the bar.

You can't fault his effort, though.

I was just writing that the pattern of the game had not changed before Joao Felix had that chance.

It still feels like both sides are happy for it to just go to penalties, especially France.

Was that the moment? I think it was.

Joao Felix has been on the pitch less than three minutes bit he races onto the end of Francisco Conceicao's teasing cross at the back post.

You think he has scored as the net ripples, but it's the side-netting.

Could he have done better there? Definitely.

Wow, Kylian Mbappe is coming off...

He has an ice pack to his nose and has taken a place on the bench. Bradley Barcola comes on to replace him.

Surely he must have said he has to come off. That's a very, very strange decision otherwise.

For Portugal, Joao Felix is entering the action, he replaces Rafael Leao.

15 more minutes of this stalemate to go... at least.

Get your caffeine in guys, cause we still have at least another 15 minutes in this one.

Luckily this break is short, and we can get this back underway.

Penalties seem likely...

Portugal are having all the ball but they just don't look like breaking France down.

Francisco Conceicao tries to scoop the ball into the net from distance.

Unsurprisingly, he fails.

I just yawned...

That tells the story of this extra-time, so far. I think I need a coffee at half-time.

The ball just won't go in for Portugal.

Both sides have put in defensive displays that can only be described as incredible.

Rafael Leao latches onto a cross at the back post and fires the ball toward the far corner.

But yet again there is a French body in the way to deny him.

Pepe unleashes a mighty roar as he gets a block in on Kylian Mbappe.

Ousmane Dembele did exceptionally well to fashion the chance for his captain, but he should have probably gone alone after an amazing dribble.

Once again, though, Pepe is a rock at the back.

I can't stop thinking about that miss.

Even with the form Cristiano Ronaldo is in, you'd expect him to bury those chances with his eyes closed.

Sums up his tournament, so far.

I'm in disbelief...

Cristiano Ronaldo may have just produced the miss of the tournament.

Francisco Conceicao fires the ball back to Ronaldo in the six-yard box, and you only expect one thing. A goal.

But he leans back and blasts the ball miles over the bar. It goes so high it's on its way to the moon.

I'm speechless.

Youssouf Fofana is introduced by France for extra time as he replaces Eduardo Camavinga.

I forgot to mention that Ruben Neves replaced Joao Palhihna just before the full-time whistle.

Anyway, we are back underway.

Jermaine Jenas, former England midfielder, on BBC One:

France have not really come out to play at all, and it's cost them. Anytime they got on the ball the quality wasn't there. Portugal were much the better team in the second half.

Diogo Costa foils Kylian Mbappe with ease and then Michael Oliver puts the whistle to his lips.

So, we have at least 30 more minutes of this contest to watch...

The second half was much better than the first, both sides had huge chances to win it.

Will they manage to find the back of the net in extra time?

We will see.

Now it's Pepe's turn to pull out some masterful defending.

He is caught in a foot race with Marcus Thuram, which he loses as you'd expect.

But he keeps biting at the heels of the Frenchman and makes a brilliant tackle to stop him in his tracks.

There will be just three minutes of stoppage time.

Will there be a winner, or are we destined for extra-time?

I think the latter.

William Saliba may have just have kept France in this tournament.

The ball falls to Bernardo Silva who lets fly inside the area and Saliba leaps in front of the ball to block it at the vital point.

Brilliant defending.

And N'Golo Kante goes for it again...

Nope. Easy for Diogo Costa once again.

I never remember Kante shooting this much while playing for Chelsea, do you?

N'golo Kante sees his name up in lights as the full-time whistle edges closer.

He pulls the trigger on the edge of the area but it's far too easy for Diogo Costa to collect.

Cristiano Ronaldo gets in his stance, puffs out his cheeks, and runs up to the ball.

And smashes it straight into the wall...

William Saliba decides to take one for the teams as Francisco Conceicao looks to burst past him and into the box.

Saliba puts his arm across the Portuguese forward's face and brings him down just outside the area.

Unsurprisingly he gets booked.

Cristiano Ronaldo is looming over the ball...

This match has lost its pace again.

For about 15 minutes it was all-action, every chance was a massive one, but now all the energy has been sapped from it.

Odd, odd game.

Oh, that is so, so harsh...

Joao Palhinha is booked for a tackle where he won the ball.

It means he will miss the semi-final against Spain if Portugal do make it through.

A massive blow.

Roberto Martinez wants to liven things up even more.

For some reason, though, he doesn't think Bruno Fernandes can do that for him.

Both he and Joao Cancelo have been hooked for Francisco Conceicao and Nelson Semedo.

Interesting, very interesting...

Cristian Ronaldo somehow survives.

Ousmane Dembele is making things happen for France.

Everything he is doing right now is making an impact, and this time he decides to have a crack from distance.

It misses by a whisker...

Every chance seems to be a massive one!

The ball falls to Eduardo Camavinga five yards out and he fires inches wide of the post.

How does he not get that on target, surely he has to score?

Big changes are going begging, right now.

Didier Deschamps wants to switch things up.

Ousmane Dembele is entering the action and replaces Antoine Griezmann.

he nearly makes an instant impact but Nuno Mendes produces a fantastic block to deny Kylian Mbappe from his pass.

Ruben Dias has just kept the score level with a massive block.

Randal Kolo Muani is sent through over the top, similar to the situation he found himself in the World Cup final two years ago.

He lets fly of a half volley that is heading for the bottom corner, but Ruben Dias lunges in front of the ball to divert it wide.

This game has come to life.

Somehow Mike Maignan makes an even better save!

France really have their goalkeeper to thank for still being level as he stands tall to deny Vitinha.

The Portugal midfielder looks set to score, I was ready to write goal, but his poked effort is no match for Maignan.

Cristiano Ronaldo then tries to follow up but can't do any damage.

Portugal are turning the screw now!

Mike Maignan makes a fantastic low save to deny Bruno Fernandes as he races through.

The Portugal number eight was looking into the whites of the keeper's eyes after being slid through by Joao Cancelo.

I thought the net was about to bulge, but fair play to Maignan.

Eduardo Camavinga, that is a brilliant bit of defending.

Rafel Leao showed his pace down the left to seemingly burst past Camaving and into the box by the byline.

He looks set to pull the trigger as he closes in on goal, but the Frenchman manages to get a foot in and put the ball out for a corner.

If he hadn't, the scoreline may be reading 1-0 to Portugal.

Wait, the foul wasn't given?

That's very strange refereeing from Michael Oliver. Antoine Griezmann was pulled down...

Anyway, Kylian Mbappe is OK, French fans can breathe a sigh of relief.

Kylian Mbappe is rolling around in pain after being sacked in the face by the ball.

While it didn't hit him in the nose, the jolt of the mask will have certainly caused some pain to it.

Play is only stopped, though, because Antoine Griezmann messed up a promising counter-attack.

He was fouled, though, by Joao Palhinha.

France seem to have come alive since I said I could fall asleep.

Theo Hernandez does brilliantly on the left and fires a dangerous low ball across the box but there are no Frenchman there to finish it off.

The pace is finally being injected into this one, though.

Nuno Mendes, what are you doing???

The full-back is in on the left-hand side of the area, he knocks it past Daypot Upamecano and then goes down.

He is screaming for a penalty, but nothing doing.

It was a clear dive, embarrassing...

Now that's more like it.

France play some lovely, quick, build-up play before Kylian Mbappe explodes into life.

He lets fly of a powerful strike - it really moves with pace - but Diogo Costa is equal to it.

These first few minutes have been as quiet as the first.

I'm a bit worried I will fall asleep if it continues in this vain.

If there are no updates for a while, call our desk... They will need to wake me up.

No changes at the break, very interesting.

The whistle is blown by Michael Oliver and the action is back on in Hamburg.

I must admit, the atmosphere is rather flat, and the stadium empty.

Rio Ferdinand, former England international, speaking on BBC One:

We built up the players and the players, huge depths in their squads and what not... We've not got much to show you at half-time.

Surely, Cristiano has to score soon.

The Portugal captain is still yet to find the back of the net at this tournament, and he doesn't look like doing so today.

How long until Roberto Martinez loses his patience with him?

Yikes, look away France fans.

England fans, this should make you feel better about the Three Lions' form.

Many fancied the French at the beginning of this tournament, but they have been miles off it this tournament.

they are still yet to score in open play at Euro 2024.

Matt Barlow, Mail Sport, in Hamburg:

One of the themes of the tournament has been for unfancied but well-organised sides to successfully frustrate stronger opposition.

Here though, it is more of a case of capable and confident players passing and moving, probing through the first half to the beat of the non-stop drumbeat in the Portugal end, while taking care not to make mistakes and concede the initiative.

No messing about from Michael Oliver.

He blows for the break as soon as the clock strikes 45 minutes.

A tight game, not a dreadful 0-0 but it could certainly be more lively. Let's hope for better in the second period.

Vitinha comes alive with a couple of neat touches and is brought down in dangerous territory.

Ronaldo lines it up but Fernandes is alongside him. 60 attempts at goal from free kicks at major tournaments for Ronaldo and one goal.

He lets Fernandes have this one but the Man United man smacks it over the bar.

Griezmann picks up the ball in a dangerous area but Fernandes is sharp to him to force a corner.

Nothing comes of it but France, in their slightly ponderous way are wriggling their way into the game.

It's been a pretty even contest and has the look of a game where a moment of inspiration will be the difference. Saliba hasn't had to get out of third gear.

Pepe has just made a brilliant intervention on Kolo Muani.

The forward was free on the edge of the box but hesitated just long enough to allow the wily old veteran to snap at his heels and steal the ball back.

Leao is causing Kounde all kinds of issues when he pins his ears back.

Portugal are feeding him whenever they can and the left side is where most of their joy has come from in the opening half an hour.

Ronaldo needs a few seconds to recover after and accidental clash of heads with Hernandez, he declines being helped back to his feet but is soon upright and play goes on.

France surge forwards on the counter-attack and the ball finds Griezmann, who works it back and then across to the onrushing Hernandez, who strikes an optimistic one from range.

It's well-struck and too hot for Costa to handle.

Mbappe then races to the byline to beat Cancelo but his square ball is cut out by the Portuguese goalkeeper.

Better from Les Bleus.

Maignan faffs about with it at the back and ends up letting the ball bounce off him for a corner.

He immediately makes amends with a confident claim of Fernandes' cross.

But Portugal are straight back on the attack, with the Man United midfielder's deflected effort from range going for another corner.

Martinez's men are well on top.

Mendes is again storming down the left and gets away from his marker with time to pick out a ball to Ronaldo in space.

But the PSG man overhits his cross and the chance goes begging.

That was the best opening of the game so far and France have let Portugal play for the last few minutes after their bright start.

Portuguese patience is the order of play at the moment, with Pepe content to knock it about at the back before feeding into Silva or Fernandes to work out wide.

Mendes is a willing runner on the overlap but his cross is easily cleared.

The first bit of attacking possession for Portugal comes through Leao surging down the left, so much pace and power as he cuts inside before feeding a neat ball to the edge of the box but it comes to nothing.

A pretty even first few minutes.

All France in the opening couple of minutes.

Portugal solid in their shape but plenty of early touches out on the left for Mbappe, who opts to pass back inside rather than have a crack at his man, plenty of time for that.

A warm clothing option that's for sure, I'd like to think they're going to keep in full cockerel mode for the duration, not much fun for the person sitting behind though. Right, we're seconds away from KO.

Right, Spain lie in wait. Mbappe and Ronaldo going toe-to-toe, pour yourself a Sagres, Super Bock or petit glass of red and enjoy this.

France have been roundly criticised by their national press but Deschamps is an arch pragmatist and isn't going to change now. An interesting take from Mbappe that he doesn't pose the same threat in behind without Pogba slotting him in.

Didier Deschamps, France coach:

We've got the quality and talent, but there are a lot of teams that have that. At the highest level, there's a need to be solid and work hard together.

Everyone is progressing, and there's a common denominator between all these matches: the athletic intensity being at the very highest level.

Roberto Martínez: 'We're now focused and ready for France. They are very strong but might leave space behind the lines. They can cause problems, but hopefully we will create more chances. The tournament now has different details, because you can win on penalties and you can create moments of individual quality.'

With almost a minute left in the other quarter-final - Spain switch the play and Dani Olmo delivers a picture perfect cross for Merino to nod a great header past Manuel Neuer. Heartbreak for the hosts and Portugal and France will be playing for the right to face La Roja.

Just about half an hour to go until we kick off here and there's still no indication of who the winner will play next - Spain and Germany are heading for penalties unless someone makes themself a hero.

It is mental that Ronaldo is still performing at the ripe old age of 39 and while he doesn't have the gas of the man 14-years-younger than him, he still has the clever movement to cause all sorts of problems, it's just been his finishing letting him down so far in Germany.

Huge cheers inside the Volkspark Stadion when the Wirtz equaliser went in but the goalkeepers are out to warm up for France and Portugal and the live feed of the Germany game has disappeared from the big screens…

Two changes for France, with Camavinga and Kolo Muani in for Rabiot (who is suspended) and Thuram.

Portugal select the same team that failed to break down Slovenia.

Volksparkstadion is already packed with supporters wanting to drink in the atmosphere with just about 45 minutes until kick-off. The fans at this tournament have been magnificent for the most part and tonight will be no different.

It's a familiar line-up tonight for Martinez, who will want more from the likes of Leao and Silva than they offered against Slovenia, although they'll have far more space to operate in against France. Speaking of space to move in, there's not much among the Portugal fans, who have congregated and are making one hell of a noise.

Diogo Costa, Nuno Mendes, Pepe, Rúben Dias, João Cancelo, João Palhinha, Vitinha, Rafael Leão, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Cristiano Ronaldo

Is tonight the night Mbappe really lights up the tournament. His broken nose has hampered him but the Portuguese defence, particularly Pepe, must be concerned about facing the soon to be Real Madrid man. He loves the big stage and no doubt wouldn't mind upstaging his old idol.

Neither Portugal or France have played to their potential just yet but which of their players are bubbling up to hit top form for the business end of the tournament?

Of course he will. Now is not the time for Roberto Martinez to blow everything up. Ronaldo, who is still yet to score this tournament other than his penalty in the shootout the other day, will feel he has plenty to prove. It will be eating away at him and tonight would be a perfect time to break that drought.

Spain are currently 1-0 up against the hosts Germany but Nagelsmann's side have just hit the post and are knocking on the door with ten minutes to go - follow all the action in the closing stages with out live blog here.

Portugal vs France is about as tasty a quarter-final as you could hope for isn't it? The headline acts of Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappe (who used to have posters of the veteran striker on his bedroom wall) take centre stage but in truth, it's the teams needing a lift in performance, with both sides huffing and puffing in the tournament so far.

Stay tuned for the build-up, team news and up to the minute updates throughout the evening.