Euro 2024 updates: France sneak into semis without Mbappé

 

HAMBURG, Germany -- This victory is dedicated to Melbourne 2023, Doha 2022, Bucharest 2021, and even Seville 1982. It encapsulates the enduring heartaches of penalty shootouts endured by French football, both men's and women's, through the years.

On Friday in Hamburg, Didier Deschamps and his squad exorcised those demons. Despite the absence of captain and star Kylian Mbappé -- substituted at half-time of extra time due to a close-range header hitting his recently injured nose -- France displayed composure and confidence. They flawlessly converted all five penalties, overcoming Portugal and finally laying to rest the ghosts of the past.

Unlike in Qatar, where Deschamps acknowledged that he hadn't focused on penalty kicks, considering them a matter of chance, this time was different. France had diligently prepared for this moment, beginning before the Belgium match in the round of 16 and continuing before facing Portugal.

Mentally, the players were better prepared than ever. Eighteen months after falling victim to Emiliano Martínez's mind games, it was Mike Maignan who unsettled the opposition this time. The Paris-born keeper made the Portuguese wait as he slowly approached his goal.

At just 21 years old with only 18 months of professional football experience, Bradley Barcola had never before taken part in a penalty shootout. Yet, he executed his penalty brilliantly. Ousmane Dembélé, who entered the game in the 67th minute and significantly influenced it, set France on the right course by scoring the first penalty of the evening. The rest, as they say, is history.

For the fourth time in the last five major tournaments, Les Bleus find themselves in the semifinals—an incredible feat. This achievement arguably places Deschamps among the greatest national team coaches ever, especially considering his 2018 World Cup victory and appearances in two additional finals (Euro 2016 and World Cup 2022). His strategic acumen was evident as he relied on his formidable defense, anchored once again by Maignan and William Saliba. France has conceded only one goal throughout the tournament—a penalty by Robert Lewandowski.

The players celebrated exuberantly, while Deschamps shared a hug and exchanged words with Roberto Martínez. Six years after defeating Martínez's Belgium team in the semifinals of the 2018 World Cup, the French coach eliminated him from another major tournament. Forty years after a memorable 3-2 extra-time victory in the Euro 1984 semifinals, France once again broke Portugal's hearts.