After the blood spilled by Kylian Mbappe and the tears shed by Cristiano Ronaldo this was the night when perspiration finally eclipsed inspiration.

Mbappe did not look quite the same hidden behind his mask and came off during extra-time, retiring to the bench holding an ice pack to his broken nose.

Ronaldo never looked like he would be coming off early despite being all but invisible through long spells.

When a decent chance finally came his way, brilliantly carved out by Francisco Conceicao at the start of extra-time, Portugal’s captain lifted it over the goal.

He did convert his penalty, but that would be not enough.

 

France booked their place in the Euro 2024 semi-finals after beating Portugal on penalties

 

Didier Deschamps’ squad were elated as they triumphed 5-3 in the shootout in Hamburg

 

Portugal had looked threatening throughout on the evening but will now be heading home

 

Joao Felix was the only player to miss from the spot, hitting a post and Ronaldo bids farewell to Euro 2024 having failed to score in his last nine appearances in the World Cup finals and European Championships.

It never quite became the night it promised to be, when Europe’s finest footballer for so long passed the torch to Mbappe, his heir apparent.

Pepe defied his 41 years and his second 120-match of the week roll back the years and it would be a defender who settled it, Theo Hernandez holding his nerve under pressure to score the decisive penalty and book France into a semi-final against Spain in Munich on Tuesday.

They may have struggled for fluency and flair, they have spluttered into he last four with three goals, two of them own goals and the other an Mbappe penalty against Poland, but Didier Deschamps’ side are still in in.

Portugal settled into a controlled most of the first half with France prepared to drop and concede territory.

 

Kylian Mbappe (left) and Pepe (right) were evenly matched throughout the quarter-final clash

 

While Cristiano Ronaldo (right) was well marshalled by France’s defence during the match

They are solid defensively, with a trio of ball-winning midfielders in front of the back four, although can lack imagination going forward. They spent the first half looking to spring Mbappe on the turnover into the spaces left by Joao Cancelo’s instincts to get forward.

MATCH FACTS AND RATINGS

Portugal 433: Costa 6.5; Cancelo 6 (Semedo 74, 6), Dias 7.5, Pepe 8, Mendes 7; Vitinha 7.5 (Nunes 119), Palhinha 7 (R.Neves 90, 6), Fernandes 6.5 (Conceicao 75, 7); Silva 6, Ronaldo 5, Leao 6 (Felix 106, 5).

Bookings: Palhinha

Manager: Roberto Martinez 6

 

France 4312: Maignan 7; Kounde 5.5, Upamecano 7, Saliba 7, T.Hernandez 6; Kante 7.5, Tchouameni 7, Camavinga 6.5 (Fofana 91, ); Griezmann 5 (Dembele 67, 6.5); Muani 5 (Thuram 86), Mbappe 6.

Goals

Bookings: Saliba

Manager: Didier Deschamps 6

 

Bruno Fernandes saw the first effort of the night deflect wide for a corner. Portugal had also lost their way to goal in the preceding matches, failing to score in a defeat against Georgia when Martinez made wholesale changes with qualification already won, and then against the massed defensive ranks of Slovenia in the last 16.

One of the themes of the tournament has been for unfancied but well-organised sides to successfully frustrate stronger opposition. Here though, it was more of a case of caution.

Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa was the hero against Slovenia in Frankfurt, saving three penalties in the shootout, and made his first save of the night to beat away a crisp strike from distance by Hernandez.

Costa was alert cut out a cross from Mbappe as France responded and their captain flickered without quite bursting into life. Ronaldo was comfortably contained by William Saliba and managed only 11 touches of the ball in the first 45 minutes.

After the criticism aimed at him for wasting so many free-kicks against Slovenia, he did step aside and let Fernandes have a go from the first set-piece close enough to take aim at Mike Maignan’s goal, four minutes before the interval.

Ronaldo stood feet apart, breathing deeply and going through the usual routine, but it was Fernandes who skipped up and whipped the ball over the defensive wall. The outcome was no different.

The ball flashed high and wide. Maignan remained untroubled.

 

Rafael Leao caused issues down the left-side for Portugal but, in the end, it wasn’t enough

 

Randal Kolo Muani (middle) had multiple opportunities for France but failed to take them

France offered more adventure in the second half which improved the spectacle. Mbappe rapped a pass into N’Golo Kane, picked up the return and tested Costa.

It was straight at the ‘keeper but signified a visible effort to perform with greater urgency.

This renewed intent offered more space to Portugal behind the French ranks. Nuno Mendes launched a counterattack down the left, skipping past first Jules Kounde and then Dayot Upamecano before throwing himself through the air but there was no contact and referee Michael Oliver was not fooled.

Mbappe, back in his own penalty area to defend a series of set-pieces, took a painful blow when a header by Bernardo Silva struck him in the face. He tore off the mask and required treatment.

Maignan produced a fabulous save on the hour to deny Fernandes. Released by Cancelo, the Manchester United playmaker took the shot first time and cut it low towards the far corner. Maignan was down swiftly to his right and kept it out.

 

Joao Felix missed the crucial penalty for penalty for Portugal which, in turn, sent them home

Cancelo fired over before France’s keeper was required again, this time making a strong save from Vitinha, bursting into the penalty area from midfield.

At the other end, Portugal protected Costa. Ruben Dias made a fine block to deflect an effort by Muani wide and Mendes closed down his Partis Saint-Germain teammate to similar effect.

Deschamps sent on Ousmane Dembele, who made an instant impact, creating an opening for Camavinga, who ought to have scored but dragged it wide and the teams went into extra-time.

Joao Felix came closest to finding the net in extra-time, heading wide at the back post. Mendes also forced a late save by this would be settled in France’s favour from the penalty spot.