Portugal v France LIVE: Result and reaction as France end penalty shootout hoodoo

There’s no second summer fairytale for Germany, as it’s instead Spainwho have the happy ending. For now. Mikel Merino ensured they rose above it all, with a brilliant header in the 119th minute. The big question as to whether they go and actually win Euro 2024 is what the cost of this 2-1 victory over the hosts will be. Toni Kroos didn’t get his grand farewell, either, as he instead contributed to a match that often turned ugly.

That meant that it didn’t quite become the game of the tournament in the manner anticipated but it was thoroughly absorbing, right until the death. And that was very, very late. It is easy to see why games like this can prevent teams from becoming champions, because of the gruelling physical and psychological cost. Spain now have Alvaro Morata and the red-carded Dani Carvajal suspended for the semi-final, with Pedri looking like he might be out injured – maybe for the summer. He was the victim of an abrasive challenge from Kroos in the opening minute, that very much set a tone.

Through that, Spain displayed another quality in a European Championships when they have already shown so many. They were the picture of perseverance. That wasn’t just because of what a gallant German team put them through but what they put themselves through.

A brief preview of the England game tomorrow, before we reflect on the other result from today...

In the final hours before England’s Euro 2024 quarter-final, there was one last decision playing on Gareth Southgate’s mind. The manager has been working on a back three for a lot of this week, but now has Luke Shawready and willing to play. While Southgate admitted they have to make “a decision regarding match sharpness and how quickly you can adjust back into that intensity of the cauldron of the tournament”, it might also bring a decision about formation.

Shaw at left-back would mean the manager’s initial 4-2-3-1, in the manner he actually wanted to play it, and the presence of an actual left-footer in the role could make a big difference.

Decisiveness may be all the more important here, since England have largely muddled through a tournament with a lot of clouded thinking to get this far.

Southgate himself played down the relevance of formation, pointing to the flexibility within games and how “you build with a four, you defend with a five”. That may have been a further attempt to cloud things for everyone else, especially given the manager’s aggravation this week at leaks about the work on a three-man defence. His comments on Shaw and formation create that bit more confusion.

There may be more to that than just mind games since Switzerlandmanager Murat Yakin was clear on how important he sees formations after their last-16 win over Italy.

Here’s the winning penalty from Hernandez. Some of those penalties were superb from both sides.

France reached the semi-finals of Euro 2024 with a penalty-shootout victory over Portugal on Friday.

The heavyweight sides played out a 0-0 draw over 120 minutes in Hamburg, with the game improving as it went on after a dull start.

Still, neither team could produce a decisive moment, with Cristiano Ronaldo largely anonymous and Kylian Mbappe being replaced in extra time, having suffered some irritation with his protective mask.

Joao Felix missed for Portugal in the shootout to hand France the advantage, and Theo Hernandez capitalised to send Les Bleus into the final four – where Spain await on Tuesday (9 July).

But how did each player perform? Here are The Independent’s ratings:

So the first semi-final of Euro 2024 is decided, as France will face Spain – who are surely the tournament favourites now – in Munich on Tuesday, 9 July.

The second semi-final will be decided tomorrow.

At 5pm BST, England will face Switzerland in Dusseldorf, before the Netherlands face Turkey in the evening game at 8pm BST in Berlin.

Not a classic by any means, but France are through to yet another semi-final under Didier Deschamps. Quite how is a bit of a mystery, but here we are.

France will face Spain, who beat Germany 2-1 earlier today in extra-time, in the semi-final in Munich on Tuesday, 9 July at 8pm BST.

Heartbreak for Portugal and Joao Felix in particular. Portugal probably deserved the win on balance, but that’s how the game goes sometimes.

Theo Hernandez to win it for France.

And he does it! Calm as you like as he steps up and slides it into the side of the net, sending Costa the wrong way!

FRANCE ARE THROUGH TO THE SEMI-FINALS!

Nuno Mendes knows this has to go in.

The left-footer, who’s had a great game, fires a superb penalty into the roof of the net. That was brilliant, all things considered.

It’s Barcola next for France. The man who came on for Mbappe.

A very short run up and he sends Costa the wrong way!

Now Portugal must score.