In the early hours of July 6, the European Championship ushered in the second quarter-final, which is destined to go down in history. World No. 6 Portugal and world No. 2 France face each other in a narrow way, and the two teams that have played off in the past have faced off in an unusual way.
Portugal's performance at this tournament has been up and down. They were brave in the first two rounds of the group stage, with two successive victories securing them at the top of the group. In the next two games, Portugal fell into an attacking slump, failing to score a goal in two consecutive games. Especially in the face of Slovenia, which is obviously inferior to him, Ronaldo actually missed a crucial penalty, and in the end, Portugal could only advance to the quarterfinals through a thrilling penalty shootout.
As the world's second-ranked powerhouse, France have scored just three goals in their first four games, two of which were own goals by their opponents, and the only goal scored by their own players was a penalty by Mbappe. At the start of the game, both sides were extra cautious, focusing more on physical confrontation than attack. In the first 15 minutes, there was not a single shot on goal, and both sides were testing each other's bottom line. It wasn't until the 21st minute that Te'o broke the dullness of the pitch with a heavy shot from outside the box at a speed of up to 127 kilometers per hour. Portuguese goalkeeper Costa put in an excellent performance, knocking the ball out with both fists and holding the defence for his team.
On the defensive end, Te'o's performance was also eye-catching, and in a scramble with Ronaldo, the two met head-to-head, and Ronaldo fell to the ground, looking quite painful. This moment showed the fighting spirit of the players of both teams, and also made the fans sweat for Ronaldo. In the last 20 minutes of the first half, the game fell flat again, and the two teams still failed to find a way to score, and the score remained 0-0 until half-time.
After the first half of the trial and attrition, the two teams strengthened their attack in the second half, and the game finally looked better. Portugal's Vitinha had a great chance to shoot in the box in the 63rd minute, and French goalkeeper Maignan made a brave save on the ball. Immediately afterwards, a back-heel shot from Cristiano Ronaldo was again saved by Maignan. Not to be outdone, France were not to be outdone, with Muani reminiscent of him at the World Cup in Qatar, where Ruben Dias' crucial defence kept the ball out to keep Portugal in the back of the net.
At the end of 90 minutes of regular time, the two teams were still tied and the game went into extra time. In the overtime period, both teams had chances to kill the game, but neither could take advantage of it, and the tension on the scene reached its peak. The tournament ushered in the third penalty shoot-out. Ousmanuel Dembele and Cristiano Ronaldo each took penalties in the first round and hit them all. In the second round, players from both teams continued to score the ball steadily. In the third round, Portugal's Felix missed a chance to score when his shot hit the left-hand post. France, on the other hand, were more consistent, hitting all five penalties to beat Portugal 5-3 to advance to the last four, where they will face Spain in the semi-finals.
The result of this match left Portugal out of the semi-finals and also allowed them to set an embarrassing record. The Portuguese men's national team was founded in 1914 and has never scored zero goals in three consecutive international tournaments. After this defeat to France, Portugal set a 110-year record of shame in their own football.
The match showcased both teams' struggles on the offensive end and also highlighted their tenacity on the defensive end. The Portuguese and French players gave their best on the pitch, and every scramble and shot touched the hearts of the fans. Portugal's exit was a disappointment for the fans, and despite Ronaldo's missed penalty, his leadership and fighting spirit on the pitch remained at the heart of the team. The growth of young players such as Felix and Vitinha has also injected hope into Portugal's future.
Although the French team qualified, their inefficiency in the offensive end still needs to be taken seriously. The form of players such as Mbappe and Dembele needs to be further adjusted, and the team's attacking system needs to be more fluid and efficient. The next semi-final against Spain will be another major test of their overall strength.
The match was undoubtedly one of the highlights of this tournament, and despite the lack of goals, the tension of the game and the wonderful performances of the players showed the fierce competition between the top teams in Europe. With Portugal's exit and France's qualification, the fixtures of this European Championship are even more intense. The fans are looking forward to every game and hope that their team can continue to move forward and fight for the final victory.
Portugal failed to beat France in this crucial quarter-final but the performance was still something to be commended and reflected. Although Ronaldo missed the penalty, his leadership and hard work in the game were undoubtedly the spiritual pillar of the whole team. As the heart of the team, Cristiano Ronaldo has always inspired his teammates and fans with his tenacious fighting spirit and excellent competitive form. Despite failing to help the team qualify for the semi-finals this time, his presence remains an indispensable force for the Portuguese team.
In the Portugal squad, young players such as Felix and Vitinha have also been impressive. Their hard work and hard work in the game has injected fresh energy into the team. Portugal will need to find a more effective way to attack in the coming games and solve the problem of inefficiency in the attacking end. Failing to score in three consecutive games is clearly not what this traditional powerhouse should be. The head coach and players need to build on the experience and further improve the team's efficiency and attacking efficiency.
For France, despite their promotion through penalty shootouts in this game, the inefficiency in the attacking end was no less worrying. Players such as Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele were positive in the game but failed to translate them into goals. France will need to find a better attacking rhythm in the next semi-finals, improving the accuracy of their shots and the tacit understanding of their coordination. Only then will they be able to occupy a more advantageous position in the showdown with Spain.
The French team deserves praise for their performance on the defensive end. In particular, goalkeeper Maignan played well, defusing the Portugal team's threatening shots on goal many times, and kept the team's hope of victory alive. Te'o's positive performance on both the defensive and offensive ends also provided strong support for the team's overall defensive system. France will need to maintain this defensive intensity while looking for a breakthrough in attack to continue in the upcoming games.
The match between Portugal and France is a contest of the strength of the two teams, and it is also a collision of two football styles. In the fierce physical confrontation, the players on both sides showed tenacious fighting spirit and tenacious will. Whether it is the head-to-head confrontation between Te'o and Cristiano Ronaldo, or the moment when Ruben Dias flies to block Muani's shot, it makes people feel the passion and charm of the football game.
With the end of the match, France managed to advance, while Portugal unfortunately exited. For Portugal, this defeat is a setback, but also an opportunity to revisit and adjust. The team will need to find better form and strategy in future matches to continue fighting for glory. For France, the next semi-final against Spain will be a major test of their overall strength and psychological quality. How to take the initiative in the strong dialogue and how to seize the opportunity at the critical moment will determine whether they can continue to move forward.
This battle between Portugal and France is destined to become a classic of this European Cup. The players have demonstrated the true spirit of football with their actions, and they are the heroes of this green field regardless of whether they win or lose. Let's stay tuned for the next games, cheer on our team and witness more exciting moments together.