Nelson Semedo of France and Theo Hernandez of France during the quarterfinal in Hamburg. Photo: SEVERIN AICHBAUER
With the clock ticking towards 120 minutes against Portugal, France must have been dreading another shootout but, after agonising defeats on penalties at Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup, the side finally came through to reach the semi-finals.
Having lost to Switzerland in the round of 16 at the last Euros and Argentina in the World Cup final, and facing a keeper in Diogo Costa who saved all three efforts in a shootout in the last round, there was little to suggest France could succeed.
But with all due respect to the Slovenia side Portugal beat on penalties in the last 16, these French players are a cut above and all five scored from the spot, with left back Theo Hernandez firing the decisive kick for a 5-3 win.
Didier Deschamps' France often manage to be dour and dramatic at the same time - defensively solid, they wasted their fair share of chances in a scoreless stalemate, and even the pivotal moment of the game came as they stood by and watched.
With France having scored their first three spot kicks and Portugal converting two, Joao Felix struck his effort well but it thudded off the foot of Mike Maignan's right-hand post and bounced harmlessly away.
The French have yet to score or concede from open play at this Euros, yet they find themselves in a semi-final against Spain next Tuesday - many other managers must be wondering what they have to do to emulate the success of Deschamps.
They may be bitter rivals but France and England are emerging as two sides of the same coin at Euro 2024 - teams that prioritise defensive stability and have an uncanny knack of making their attacks far less than the sum of their parts.
Kylian Mbappe once again spent more time fiddling with his mask than setting up his teammates, and all too often France's attacking players went on solo runs, punctuating them with shots from distance that were blocked.
Final third
Even the notoriously shot-shy N'Golo Kante eyed up a few chances - evidence, if ever it was needed that France are not quite sure what they want to do when they reach the final third.
At his brilliant best cutting in from the left, Mbappe was reduced to running up blind alleys. With little decisive movement in front of him, no spaces opened up to exploit.
At the other end, Cristiano Ronaldo stood in a similarly static pose as Portugal attacked, getting in the way of younger teammates and hastening the end of his last game at the Euros by making poor decisions coupled with even worse finishing.
While Maignan was unable to pull off a Costa-like performance that might strike fear into the hearts of future opponents, the France keeper can take solace from how his players executed in the shootout.
Even Jules Kounde, who looked distinctly reluctant as he approached the penalty spot, struck his kick with superb technique, offering Costa little chance to save it.
France may not be pulling up trees at Euro 2024 but then again they are not trying to. Deschamps will not care if they never score and only win on penalties from here on in as long as they lift the Henry Delaunay trophy on Bastille Day in Berlin.
- Reuters