Every European Championship has its own unique charm and surprises, and this quarter-final is even more unforgettable. At 3 a.m. on July 6, Portugal's match against France attracted the attention of countless fans around the world. After all, the duel between Mbappe and Ronaldo is exciting enough, not to mention that this is the last European Cup of Ronaldo's career, and it may also be his curtain call.
A much-watched showdown
As soon as the game began, the two teams launched a fierce attack. France have been strong on the pitch despite not scoring in the open so far. Mbappe, a young talent, is particularly excited and focused in the face of his idol Cristiano Ronaldo. However, it was a surprise that neither side scored in the first 70 minutes of the game.
In the 69th minute, France's Camavinga pushed from a tight angle in the box, but the ball was deflected off the line. Just minutes later, in the 73rd minute, Dembele went close to breaking the deadlock by hitting the neutral post with a left-footed shot. Not to be outdone, the Portuguese side were not to be outdone, and in the 80th minute, N'Golo Kante's cross was confiscated by Portuguese goalkeeper Costa. In the 84th minute, Ronaldo took a free kick, but it was blocked by the French team's human wall, and Vitinha on the periphery suddenly made a cold arrow, but still failed to rewrite the score.
The caution of extra-time and the brutality of the penalty shootout
After 90 minutes of fierce battle, the score was still 0-0. Entering extra time, both sides were a little cautious and did not dare to attack rashly, after all, conceding a goal at this stage could mean a direct exit. In extra time, both sides had chances but couldn't take them. In the 30-minute extra time, the two sides were more tentative and defensive, and the suspense of the game was brought to the penalty shootout.
After the penalty shootout began, the French team hit consecutive shots, showing a strong psychological quality. Felix, Portugal's third appearance, hit the post and made people sweat for them. With France's fifth free throw, the game was over and Portugal had no chance to make a free throw. In the end, France eliminated Portugal with a score of 5-3 and managed to advance to the semi-finals, where they will face Spain.
Cristiano Ronaldo's curtain call
After the game, Ronaldo was full of unwillingness, this was the last European Championship of his career. Despite not being able to lead the team far, he is still a hero in the hearts of the fans. After the game, he also went to comfort the veteran Pepe, and the backs of the two veterans were full of emotion.
Spain beat hosts Germany
The other match was equally exciting, with Spain taking on hosts Germany. From the start of the game, Spain showed strong attacking prowess. In the 90th minute, Spain broke the deadlock first, with Yamal assisting Olmo's goal. Just when the crowd thought the game was going to end 1-0, in the 89th minute, the German team miraculously equalized. The two sides went into extra time.
Extra-time was no less tense than France's match against Portugal. In the 119th minute, just when everyone thought the game would go to a penalty shootout, Olmo sent another assist, and Merino headed it out! The German team unfortunately exited the tournament, and the score was fixed at 1-2.
The semi-finals will be decided, and the strong dialogue will be staged soon
So far, two places have been decided in the semi-finals of the European Championship: France and Spain. These two teams will face off in the semi-finals. As the 2014 World Cup champion, Germany's exit is embarrassing; As the winners of the 2016 European Championships, Portugal also failed to make it to the end. As the game shows, the European Championship stage is always full of surprises and surprises.
The matchup between Spain and France is undoubtedly the biggest attraction of the upcoming match. Although the French team have yet to score in the athletic battle, their overall quality and mental quality should not be underestimated. Spain, on the other hand, showed strong attacking firepower and teamwork in what will be a real battle for the dragon.
The worries and hopes of the French team
Speaking of France, despite their success in a penalty shoot-out, they have so far failed to score in open play, which is a bit worrying. You must know that the French team has a number of attackers such as Mbappe, Griezmann, and Dembele, and it stands to reason that they do not lack the ability to score goals. So, why is this happening?
First of all, France have been more cautious in their tactical approach at this European Championship, and Deschamps clearly doesn't want the team to be leaky in defence. Secondly, the team faced the opponent's tight defense many times in the game, and the offensive space was greatly compressed, which also affected their performance. However, the excellent performance in the penalty shoot-out also illustrates the team's mental quality in key moments, which will be an important advantage against Spain.
Spain's strength and challenges
Spain, on the other hand, showed strong attacking ability and indomitable spirit against Germany. In particular, the performances of Olmo and Merino were amazing. Spain's last-gasp strike in extra time not only showed their technical and tactical level, but also showed the resilience of the team.
However, against a team like France, which is solid defensively and sharp on the counter-attack, Spain also faces a lot of challenges. They need to be efficient in attack while also guarding against quick counter-attacks. After all, Mbappe's speed and ability to break through could cause problems for Spain's defence at any time.
Expectations and prospects
In the next semi-finals, the showdown between France and Spain is undoubtedly a feast for fans. It's not just a game, it's a battle of tactics and skills. Both teams have their strengths and worries, and whoever can have the last laugh will get closer to the European Championship trophy.
In this upcoming matchup, France will need to address the bottleneck in attack, while Spain will need to maintain defensive solidity and attacking sharpness. Every detail, every tactical change of both teams, can be the difference between victory and defeat.
That's the beauty of the European Championships, where every game is full of suspense and surprises. France eliminated Portugal on penalties, and Ronaldo's curtain call was moving. And the Spanish team's defeat of the host Germany in the fierce confrontation is also exciting.
In the semi-finals, France and Spain will once again ignite the passion of the fans. It remains to be seen who will emerge victorious in this powerful conversation. Regardless of the outcome, this match is destined to become a classic battle of this European Cup.
Let's hope that the French team can break through and achieve goals in the open game; It will also be interesting to see if the Spanish team can continue their strong performance. Such a game is not only a test of the players' skills and psychology, but also a great challenge to the heart of every football lover.