France Beat Portugal in Shootout to Reach Semis and End Ronaldo’s Dream

 Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, right, embraces Pepe at the end of a quarter final match against France at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Hamburg, Germany, Friday, July 5, 2024. (AP)
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, right, embraces Pepe at the end of a quarter final match against France at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Hamburg, Germany, Friday, July 5, 2024. (AP)
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France Beat Portugal in Shootout to Reach Semis and End Ronaldo’s Dream

 Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, right, embraces Pepe at the end of a quarter final match against France at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Hamburg, Germany, Friday, July 5, 2024. (AP)
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, right, embraces Pepe at the end of a quarter final match against France at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Hamburg, Germany, Friday, July 5, 2024. (AP)

France converted all their kicks in a shootout to edge Portugal 5-3 on penalties after a goalless stalemate in their European Championship quarter-final on Friday, likely bringing the curtain down on Cristiano Ronaldo's international career.

Theo Hernandez stroked home the winning kick for a perfect sequence after Joao Felix’s effort, the third for Portugal, hit the post. France will now play Spain in the semi-finals on Tuesday in Munich.

Defeat for Portugal is set to spell the end of the 21-year international career of 39-year-old Ronaldo, who converted their first kick in the shootout but was also responsible for one of the night’s many glaring misses.

Success for France makes up for shootout heartbreak at the last Euros, when they were eliminated by Switzerland in the round of 16, and in the 2022 World Cup final against Argentina.

Ousmane Dembele, Youssouf Fofana, Jules Kounde and Bradley Barcola all netted their spot kicks for victorious France.

A game that was slow in firing up ended with a myriad of missed opportunities at either end, with clear chances for both sides in 90 minutes as well as the half hour of extra time.

France now find themselves in the semis without scoring in open play at the tournament, having benefitted from two own goals and a penalty in their previous four games.

But the French have also not conceded in open play at Euro 2024 with goalkeeper Mike Maignan making two key saves in Friday's match that proved key for his side.

CAUTIOUS START

Both teams started cautiously, intent on keeping possession and avoiding mistakes. The play was therefore often pedestrian with only periodic bursts of action.

It took 16 minutes before the first shot was fired off in anger – Bruno Fernandes’ effort hitting Hernandez and deflecting away for a corner.

Soon after the second half kicked off, the contest rose from its slumber.

A rare contribution from the masked Kylian Mbappe was a clever combination with N'Golo Kante that produced a rapid fire shot, swallowed up by goalkeeper Diogo Costa. France's captain Mbappe had another off night in attack.

Within minutes, Hernandez’s square ball from the left beat the Portuguese defense as it went invitingly across goal, crying out for a tap-in but with no one to meet it.

Maignan then made two crucial saves in the space of three minutes – a stiff arm reaction to deny Fernandes on the hour, followed by a point blank stop from Vitinha after another of Rafael Leao’s probing runs.

MENTAL STRENGTH

"We knew it was going to be a tough game but we were solid in defense and we had a lot of mental strength and kept our cool during the shootout, that's what made the difference," Maignan said.

In the 67th minute, a quick break from Randal Kolo Muani, in tandem with Kounde, had the striker in on goal but Ruben Dias made a goal-saving tackle.

France’s profligacy continued straight afterwards when substitute Dembele’s trickery teed up Eduardo Camavinga but the young midfielder inexplicably spurned the chance from close range.

"You wonder what would have happened if we had scored goals. The opponent wasn't that efficient either," added France coach Didier Deschamps.

"But you're not telling me that we don't deserve our place in the semi-final. But I would prefer to have a team that's more efficient in goalscoring."

The worst miss, however, belonged to Ronaldo three minutes into extra time as Francisco Conceicao’s enterprise saw him cut in on the byline and pull the ball back for his captain to deliver a fairytale finish but the forward fluffed his lines.

Ronaldo's future with Portugal after 212 caps and 130 goals now looks at an end. He was in the Portuguese side that beat France in the Euro 2016 final in Paris, although he went off early with injury and had to urge them on from the sidelines.

Also likely to be over is the international career of 41-year-old center back Pepe, the oldest player to appear at the Euros.

"Football is cruel ... and sadness is part of it. We were aiming to win for our country and bring joy to our people," said Pepe, who made some outstanding tackles. "Five days ago we won on penalties and now we've lost on penalties."



Sabalenka Beats Pegula in Miami Open Final for 19th Tour Title

Aryna Sabalenka (C) holds the trophy, surrounded by the ball persons, after winning the women's final match of the 2024 Miami Open tennis tournament, in Miami, Florida, USA, 29 March 2025. EPA/CRISTOBAL HERRERA-ULASHKEVICH
Aryna Sabalenka (C) holds the trophy, surrounded by the ball persons, after winning the women's final match of the 2024 Miami Open tennis tournament, in Miami, Florida, USA, 29 March 2025. EPA/CRISTOBAL HERRERA-ULASHKEVICH
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Sabalenka Beats Pegula in Miami Open Final for 19th Tour Title

Aryna Sabalenka (C) holds the trophy, surrounded by the ball persons, after winning the women's final match of the 2024 Miami Open tennis tournament, in Miami, Florida, USA, 29 March 2025. EPA/CRISTOBAL HERRERA-ULASHKEVICH
Aryna Sabalenka (C) holds the trophy, surrounded by the ball persons, after winning the women's final match of the 2024 Miami Open tennis tournament, in Miami, Florida, USA, 29 March 2025. EPA/CRISTOBAL HERRERA-ULASHKEVICH

Aryna Sabalenka entered the Miami Open final against Jessica Pegula with 18 career titles on her elite resume.
The Miami Open crown had proved elusive until Saturday.
The No. 1 seed from Belarus knocked off fourth-seeded American Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2 for her first Miami Open title in a rematch of the 2024 US Open final, The Associated Press reported.
Sabalenka fired up her lethal forehand in posting 24 winners on that wing to win the $1.1 million first prize. Sabalenka hit a backhand passing shot on match point after which she raised both hands to the air, looked up to the sky and blew a kiss.
“Thank God the rain stopped,” Sabalenka said during the trophy ceremony. “It was like Miami was crying that I won this tournament.’’
Sabalenka, a three-time Grand Slam champion, had won the US Open over Pegula, also in straight sets, 7-5, 7-5, but in 2025, Sabalenka’s finals luck had run out.
The 26-year-old power player has reached the finals of four of six events this year, though only copped one title, in Brisbane, before adding Miami. Sabalenka lost in the finals of the Australian Open and at Indian Wells — the event that preceded Miami.
Sabalenka, who now lives in Miami, brought the hand-blown crystal trophy to the interview room. “Finally I was able to play my best tennis in the finals,’’ Sabalenka said. “I’m super happy to hold this beautiful trophy. I feel like home here, even though I’m traveling every week, it still feels like home.’’
Sabalenka said she will spend the next two weeks in Miami, relaxing before the clay season.
“My team is so exhausted so today we will chill, but tomorrow I’m going to force them to have drinks drinks, burgers, pizza (and) have fun," Sabalenka said. "I think we should celebrate because we struggled after those tough finals, all kind of depressed. After this final, we have to celebrate to remember the moment.’’
During the trophy ceremony, Pegula said to Sabalenka: “You’re the best player in the world for a reason. You keep challenging everyone to get better. The level of tennis you’ve been able to play is amazing.’’
While Sabalenka is a recent South Florida resident, Pegula, a 31-year-old Buffalo native, had the crowd support. Pegula has lived in Boca Raton since she was 13 and is daughter of Terry Pegula, owner of the Buffalo Bills and Sabres.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was in attendance as the league owners meetings takes place Monday in nearby Palm Beach. Her father was also on hand.
“It’s still cool to see this transform from a Dolphins-Bills game to a tennis stadium,’’ Pegula said.
Pegula said she saw Goodell, whom she had met before, before the match.
“He was with his daughter and family an hour before the match,’’ Pegula said. “I didn’t know he was coming. I saw him in the cafeteria. It was kind of funny.’’
Neither player could hold serve well in the first set. Sabalenka broke Pegula’s serve four times and won it 7-5, winning the last eight points of the set.
At 5-5, Sabalenka held serve at love for a 6-5 lead, then broke Pegula at love after hitting three straight winners — two at the net.
“She was able to hit the lines when she needed to, hit the big serve with the 1-2 punch when she needed to,’’ Pegula said.
Sabalenka leads the series vs. Pegula 7-2 and has won the last three meetings – all finals. Pegula sounded tired of losing to her.
“Now it feels like the last year Aryna has, especially on the hard courts, been kind of unstoppable virtually,’’ Pegula said. “I definitely like embracing that challenge, although I am getting a little annoyed with playing her.’’
Pegula smiled, adding “I don’t know if I would have won if I played someone else. But, man, I mean, it’s three titles.’’
The men’s doubles final, first on the card, was stopped by rain in the second set with No. 1 seed Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic leading No. 6 Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool 7-6, 3-2. 30-30.
Arevalo and Pavic closed out the championship quickly 7-6, 6-3, but the rain delay caused the 3 p.m. women’s final to begin more than one hour tardy.