Tough fight and strong nerves: France’s stars have sent Cristiano Ronaldo into retirement and are on course for their third European Championship title

The runners-up defeated Portugal 5:3 on penalties in the quarter-final clash in Hamburg – with injured superstar Kylian Mbappe already out of action. He had already left the pitch at half-time of extra time with an ice pack on his nose, which had been broken almost three weeks earlier

The score was 0-0 after 120 minutes, with Theo Hernandez finally deciding the game from the spot for the ruthless but lacklustre French side. Mbappe was jubilant, but it was still a very special victory: the 2018 World Cup winner reached his first European Championship semi-final in a clash of the generations against his childhood idol Ronaldo, who is 14 years his senior. After missing out in the round of 16 in 2021, the aim now is to win the title.

Portugal and especially Ronaldo, who converted his penalty, experienced the ultimate European Championship disappointment in the rematch of the 2016 final (1:0 at the time). The record-breaking player would have loved to say goodbye to the big stage with the trophy after the round of 16 exit in 2021, but his 30th European Championship appearance in 20 years was his last. A quarter-final finish – the 39-year-old Ronaldo failed to score for the first time in his sixth European Championship appearance (14 goals).

The eyes of the 49,000 spectators in the Volkspark were mainly focused on Ronaldo and Mbappe. France were “one of the favorites for the title. But we’re going to war”, Ronaldo had announced martially before the game.

But anyone expecting an offensive firework display from the big soccer stars was initially bitterly disappointed. Hardly any contact with the ball, no finishes: Ronaldo and Mbappe were nowhere to be seen for a long time.

CR7 hardly managed anything against France’s central defense led by Bayern professional Dayot Upamecano in the first half. At the other end, the French turbo dribbler still seemed inhibited by his face mask.

The first shot on goal? Came from a defender of all people. But Theo Hernandez’s attempt from distance posed no great challenge to Portugal’s eighth-final hero Diogo Costa. In fact, it was to be the only “chance” in the first half. No wonder, given the poor tournament scoreline of just five (Portugal) and three (France) goals up to that point.

The game became much more entertaining in the second half. Both teams dropped their defensive chains and it suddenly went back and forth – with great chances on both sides. But Mbappe (50′), like his team-mates Randal Kolo Muani (66′) and Eduardo Camavinga (70′), was too imprecise with his shot. At the other end, Bruno Fernandes (61) and Vitinha (63) were denied by France keeper Mike Maignan’s brilliant reaction. And so the game went into extra time goalless.

Shortly after the restart, Ronaldo chased the ball over the goal from a prime position, and Mbappe was replaced by Bradley Barcola at half-time of the encore