BERLIN, July 5 (Xinhua) — France progress on penalties after converting all five shots from the spot to eliminate Portugal 5-3 (0-0) in the Euro 2024 quarterfinals of in Hamburg’s Volkspark stadium on Friday.

France and Portugal staged an evenly balanced first half with chances at premium on both ends of the pitch.

The first half chances fell to Portugal with 16 minutes played, when Bruno Fernandes saw his promising effort on target blocked by defender William Saliba.

France created the best opportunity of the first half four minutes later when Theo Hernandez’ attempt from the distance to force Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa into action.

After the half-time, Portugal took the reins and came close at the hour mark after Joao Cancelo’s through ball found Fernandes, whose drilled effort is saved by Les Bleus custodian Mike Maignan.

Maignan remained busy as he was equal to Vitinhia’s powerful but central shot on target moments later.

France almost caught Portugal flat-footed in the 66th minute, but Ruben Dias blocked Randal Kolo Muani’s shot in the last nick of time.

Didier Deschamps’ men had more momentum in the closing stages but Eduardo Camavinga and Ousmane Dembele couldn’t turn their promising chances into a tangible reward.

In the overtime, Portugal was the more active team whereas France defended deep and waited for counterattacks. Joao Felix had the golden chance to snatch a late overtime winner, but he headed into the side netting from tight angle.

After goalless 120 minutes, the penalty shootout had to bring the decision. After two successful penalties for both sides, Felix missed and hit the left post with low shot. Hernandez clinched the win for France after making it 5-3 from the spot.

“It wasn’t easy today. We made our own life difficult, but we defended very well and kept a strong opponent at bay. We were not nervous during the shootout and won the match,” said France goalkeeper Maignan.

With the result, France will clash with Spain in the semifinal the at Munich’s Allianz Arena on Tuesday.

Source(s): Xinhua

BERLIN, July 5 (Xinhua) — Mikel Merino’s 119th minute winner sent tournament host Germany packing and booked Spain a semifinal ticket at the Euro 2024 in Stuttgart’s MHP-Arena on Friday.

The two sides drew 1-1 in regular time and the match was dragged into overtime where Olmo’s pinpoint cross to the near post allowed Merino to nod home the decisive goal.

Both sides needed some time to gain a foothold into the clash, as many fouls disrupted the flow of the game.

Spain assumed control as the match progressed and created chances through long-range efforts. However, Nico Williams and Fabian Ruiz lacked in accuracy while Lamine Yamal pulled a free-kick just wide.

Germany remained on the back foot but Aymeric Laporte as well as Dani Olmo couldn’t overcome goalkeeper Manuel Neuer from the distance.

Kai Havertz produced Germany’s first clear-cut opportunity in the closing stage of the first half after forcing Spain custodian Simon Unai into action.

Spain started brightly into the second half as Alvaro Morata missed the target with a turn shot from inside the box, before Olmo eventually broke the deadlock in the 51st minute when the Leipzig player finished off Yamal’s low pass with one-timer from 14 meters into the bottom left corner.

Julian Nagelsmann’s boys tried to respond quickly but either the final pass was missing, or Spain’s defense cleared the ball in the last nick of time.

The Germans increased the pressure as Simon had defuse Robert Andrich’s shot on target before Niclas Fullkrug smacked the woodwork.

Havertz should have leveled the scores but chipped the ball over the empty target from 22 meters.

Spain couldn’t get out of their territory and was punished later on as Joshua Kimmich headed from tight angle into the path of Florian Wirtz, who slotted home the equalizer with great assistance of the inside the left post to force La Roja into the overtime.

“Congratulations to Spain for reaching the semifinals. We were better in the second half and from the 60th minute onwards, we were clearly the better team. Our late leveller was well-deserved. We conceded the winner with the last chance. It is a painful one,” said Germany coach Nagelsmann.

Source(s): Xinhua

HOUSTON, July 4 (Xinhua) — Emiliano Martinez saved two spot kicks as defending champions Argentina defeated Ecuador on penalties to advance to the Copa America semifinals on Thursday.

Lisandro Martinez put Argentina ahead by nodding home just after the half-hour and the Albiceleste looked on course for victory before Kevin Rodriguez equalized in second-half stoppage time.

With no extra-time, the game went straight to penalties and Argentina looked crestfallen when Lionel Messi’s opening attempt bounced off the top side of the crossbar.

But Martinez denied Angel Mena and Alan Minda before Nicolas Otamendi converted the decisive spot kick as Lionel Scaloni’s men prevailed 4-2 in the shootout.

Argentina will now meet the winner of Friday’s quarterfinal between Canada and Venezuela for a place in the final.

“I wasn’t ready to go home,” Emiliano Martinez said afterward. “The truth is that it was a really difficult game. We knew that Ecuador was one of the toughest teams in the competition. They’re a young team that defends well and fights until the end.”

Ecuador began brightly at NRG Stadium and Angel Preciado shot over when he ought to have done better after smart play from Enner Valencia.

Argentina took the lead in the 35th minute when Alexis Mac Allister flicked on Lionel Messi’s corner before an unmarked Lisandro Martinez headed home at the far post.

Ecuador were handed a penalty on the hour after Rodrigo de Paul was deemed to have handled the ball inside the area. But Valencia squandered the chance to equalize by sending his spot-kick crashing off the left post.

Argentina began to push forward with more purpose and Messi forced a smart save from goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez after combining with De Paul.

Lisandro Martinez had an attempt blocked and saw another shot sail wide as the Albiceleste continued to search for a second goal.

But the momentum swung again and Jordy Caicedo’s left-footed effort went narrowly wide before Rodriguez stunned the reigning world champions by breaching Martinez’s goal for the first time this tournament with a header into the bottom left corner following John Yeboah’s cross.

Source(s): Xinhua