Portugal vs France, EURO 2024 Highlights: France defeat Portugal ...

Cristiano Ronaldo, center, reacts after Portugal lost the Euro 2024 quarter-final to France in Hamburg via penalty shootouts. (AP Photo)

Portugal vs France Quarter Final, UEFA Euro 2024 Highlights: Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal crashed out of the quarter-final of the Euro 2024 after Kylian Mbappe-led France defeated them via penalty shootout. This is Ronaldo’s last European Championship. Both teams were deadlocked 0-0 at full-time in the quarterfinal at the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg. France thus booked a semi-final showdown against Spain, who sent hosts Germany out of the tournament.

The game between France and Portugal was a rematch of the Euro 2016 final. This game was also coming on the 18th anniversary of another pivotal clash between the sides: a game at the 2006 FIFA World Cup when Zinedine Zidane smashed the winner through a penalty in the semifinals.

Portugal and France were touted as pre-tournament favourites this time but have failed to light up the event thus far. After two wins in their first two matches, Portugal could not score in their last two outings against Georgia and Slovenia.

Scroll down to follow updates from the POR vs FRA match as it happened

Mbappe and Ronaldo clash in a passing of the baton quarterfinal match

It’s the Christmas break before Real Madrid clinch the much awaited La Decima. At the team’s training complex at Valdebebas, it is business as usual. One after another the crème de la crème of luxury cars and world football are arriving for a holiday break training session. Greeting them inside the facility is a twitchy 13-year-old, wearing the club’s original jacket. The boy, who has come to the Spanish capital all the way from the Parisian suburbs, has been in a state of shock since his inviter, club director Zinedine Zidane, received him in his car. “Should I take off my shoes?” he’d nervously ask the French icon. It’s Zizou who gifts him with the Real Madrid apparel.

For Kylian Mbappe, who turns 14 later in the week, the greatest gift arrives at last as the man postered all over his bedroom walls walks up to him. It’s his hero Cristiano Ronaldo. A cute little meeting illustrated on the pages of the comic book, Je M’appelle Kylian. As Ronaldo puts his hand around Mbappe’s shoulder, Zidane volunteers to take a photo. Click. This one is going down in the vaults. READ MORE