🇫🇷🇪🇸 France through after dramatic shoot out; Spain knock out Germany

Two dramatic finales saw Spain and France through to the semi-finals of EURO 2024, with both matches going beyond the 90 minutes.

Here’s what went down.

France knock out Portugal on penalties after bore draw

France are through to the Euro 2024 semi-finals after a 0-0 stalemate ended in a penalty shootout.

It took until an hour had passed for this game to suddenly spring into life following a dour opening period.

Portugal struck first, forcing back-to-back saves from Mike Maignan, first from a João Cancelo shot, and then from a Ronaldo backheel.

At the other end, Rúben Dias make a sliding block to stop a Kolo Muani shot, followed by an excellent chance to score scuffed wide by Eduardo Camavinga.

Considering France hadn’t scored from open play in the entire tournament and Portugal’s last knockout game ended 0-0 in normal time, extra time was perhaps a given in this match.

Cristiano Ronaldo had a gilt-edged chance to put his side ahead in the first period of extra-time, but instead blasted his shot well over.

Shortly afterwards, Ousmane Dembélé skipped away from Pepe and found himself in a great position to shoot, but instead he passed to Kylian Mbappé, who couldn’t do anything with his effort.

Rafael Leão had a shot well blocked in the first period, and after the break João Félix hit the side netting with another attempt on goal.

There was some superb defending in this game, but simply not enough cutting edge in attack. And so to penalties it went.

Dembélé scored the opening spot-kick and was matched by Ronaldo for Portugal. Youssouf Fofana netted his attempt, and again Portugal also hit the mark with Bernardo Silva.

Jules Koundé stepped up for France’s third and duly converted, but João Felix was the first to miss when he hit the post.

21-year-old France substitute Bradley Barcola was under plenty of pressure, and he showed great composure to step up and scored. Nuno Mendes knew he had to score Portugal’s fifth and hit his shot right into the top corner.

And it was Milan’s Theo Hernández who scored the winning penalty to take them to the semi-final.

Spain win dramatic quarter-final with last-gasp extra time goal

Scorers: Olmo 51′, Merino 119; Wirtz 89′

Spain are through to the semi-final of EURO 2024 with the most dramatic of last minute goals that saw them win 2-1.

That was despite the fact La Roja were dealt an early blow as Pedri suffered a heavy challenge from Toni Kroos, and had to go off after just seven minutes.

Both sides struggled to get a foothold in the game in the first half, but it was Pedri’s replacement Dani Olmo that made the breakthrough, latching on to a perfect pass from Lamine Yamal and finishing into the bottom corner.

Unai Simon was forced into a big save from a Robert Andrich effort from distance, before Niclas Füllkrug hit the post from a Florian Wirtz cross.

Germany kept coming and Kai Havertz very nearly chipped Simon with an audacious effort that would’ve been a superb goal had it not gone just over the bar.

With just minutes to go before they exited the competition, Toni Kroos lofted a cross over to the back post, which was headed back across by Joshua Kimmich and slammed into the bottom corner by Florian Wirtz.

Into extra time and Wirtz shot centimetres wide of the post, before Spain’s Marc Cucurella handled the ball inside the box, but it was not ruled to be a penalty.

The game took yet another dramatic twist when Spain’s Mikel Merino rose up, hung in the air, and headed home a brilliant goal just as the tie was heading to penalties.

A breathtaking finish to the match saw Füllkrug almost level the scores with a brilliant header that went inches wide, and Dani Carvajal was sent off in the final seconds, but it was Spain who took the place in the semi-final.