France beat Portugal on penalties to set up Euro 2024 semifinal with Spain (2024)

It’s time to wrap up our live coverage of Portugal vs France at Euro 2024.

It wasn’t the most thrilling of encounters but the penalty shootout ensured the game finished with some drama as France booked their place in the last four.

Stay with Al Jazeera Sport on Saturday as we bring you more live coverage of the quarterfinals.

But for now, from me – Adam Hanco*ck – and my colleague Kevin Hand, it’s goodbye.

Two titanic clashes and two giants fell on Friday, with hosts Germany and the all-conquering qualifiers Portugal defeated by Spain and France respectively.

England are under huge pressure – for their misfiring campaign so far – when they face Switzerland, while the Netherlands and Turkey will both feel they are teams on the rise.

We’ll bring it all to you with our comprehensive pre and post-match coverage as well as our live text commentary as we will find out who will make up the second semifinal.

🇪🇸🆚🇫🇷 Semi-final locked in 🔒

🗓️ Tuesday 9 July 2024#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/U7UTLPWvat

— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) July 5, 2024

“It was a very tense, tight game,” Deschamps said. “It could have gone either way, even if we had a more difficult end to the game in extra time. Maybe we were a bit more tired. It comes down to details.

“I’m very happy for the squad who played to the limit. We’re going to enjoy being in the last four.

“It’s to the credit of the whole group, those who play and those who can’t.”

“Football is cruel and sadness is part of it,” Pepe said. “We were aiming to win for our country and bring joy to our people.

“Five days ago, we won on penalties and now, we lost on penalties. It’s cruel. The most important thing is to congratulate my colleagues for their commitment to the game.”

“We have to be proud of our players because they fought and performed very well,” Martinez said.

“Football can be cruel. We wanted to give joy to the Portuguese people and the message is that the team gave everything and showed Portugal’s values.

“It was a good game and France is a good team. We had more ball, we created opportunities, but we lacked precision and we needed to score a goal. We had a lot of opportunities but it was a game of high technical and tactical level.”

“He’s tired, obviously. Muscularly, it’s not easy with everything he’s had,” Deschamps said of the striker he substituted ahead of the penalty shootout.

“I saw him struggling during the first period of extra time. It was pointless [to leave him on]. Kylian has always been honest with me and the group, so it was only natural to bring in some new blood.”

“It’s becoming our habit [to reach the last four of a tournament] but we mustn’t take that for granted – that’s what I always say,” Deschamps said after the win.

“It’s what all the players in the team deserve.”

“It’s complicated, it’s hard,” Mendes said. “I don’t think we were missing anything, we gave it our all over the 120 minutes.

“We created chances to score but didn’t unfortunately. But that’s football – it’s like that.”

“It was a very intense match against a team that kept the ball very well,” Camavinga said.

“We defended well again, we didn’t concede a goal and we are still yet to concede [in open play in the tournament].”

“I’m happy, happy for everyone,” Maignan said. “It wasn’t an easy match. We knew it was going to be complicated.

“We were solid defensively, we also put them in difficulty. Mentality made the difference. On penalties, we didn’t tremble and that made the difference.”

Spain and France booked their spots in the last four today. Who will join them tomorrow?

First up, it’s England vs Switzerland in Dusseldorf. That one kicks off at 6pm local time (18:00 GMT). You can read our full guide to that match here.

Then, at 9pm local time (19:00 GMT), it will be the final quarterfinal as the Netherlands face surprise package Turkey in Berlin.

It should be quite the day in Germany.

Spain vs France for a place in the European Championship final – it doesn’t get much bigger.

They last met in this competition at Euro 2012, when Spain won 2-0 in Ukraine.

Their last meeting in general came back in October 2021, when France won 2-1 in the Nations League final in Milan.

🇪🇸🆚🇫🇷 Semi-final locked in 🔒

🗓️ Tuesday 9 July 2024#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/U7UTLPWvat

— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) July 5, 2024

Both Cristiano Ronaldo and Pepe were tearful out on the pitch in Hamburg at the end of the match.

Could that be it for both of them at major tournaments?

Pepe is 41, so it’s unlikely he will make the next World Cup in 2026. As for 39-year-old Ronaldo, well, never count him out. The former Manchester United and Real Madrid forward said ahead of the tournament that this will be his last European Championship.

A World Cup in the US, Mexico and Canada could be the perfect goodbye (perhaps).

It’s another semifinal for France.

They’ll be taking on Spain in Munich on Tuesday.

QUALIFIED 🤩

After a tremendous effort, Les Bleus secure their spot in the semi-finals of #EURO2024 #PORFRA | #FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/yvS46yohMp

— French Team ⭐⭐ (@FrenchTeam) July 5, 2024

Roberto Martinez may have fancied his side to repeat their shootout success after how well they performed midweek, but it wasn’t to be.

Diogo Costa couldn’t stop any of the French penalty-takers and Portugal are heading home.

They haven’t scored for three consecutive matches, with goals becoming a real problem.

Some will point to the decision to persist with Cristiano Ronaldo, despite him not opening his account at this tournament.

France have, yet again, found a way to win.

Five penalties scored and they are in the semifinals.

They’ve looked distinctly average this tournament, but France keep finding their way through.

🇫🇷 France are through to the semi-finals!#EURO2024 | #PORFRA pic.twitter.com/lyvLExtyrO

— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) July 5, 2024

France are in the semifinals!

Portugal X X O X

France X X X X X

Cool as you like – fired into the top right corner.

Portugal X X O X

France X X X X

A confident penalty dispatched in the left corner.

Portugal X X O

France X X X X

He’s hit the left post! Advantage France.

Portugal X X O

France X X X

Another great pen. This time, in the top left.

Portugal X X

France X X X

Brilliant penalty from the Man City man. Up in the top right corner.

Portugal X X

France X X