Euro 2024: France create history by reaching semifinal without scoring or conceding single goal in open play

France beat Portugal on penalties to enter the Euro 2024 semis on Friday (Jul 5) in Germany. With the win, France became the first team in tournament history to reach the semifinal without conceding or scoring a goal in an open play period throughout the tournament.

France was in Group D with Austria, Netherlands and Poland. The 2022 FIFA World Cup finalists won 1-0 against Austria but due to an own goal by the opposition. Against the Dutch, Les Blues played a 0-0 draw before drawing 1-1 against Poland.

The goals against Poland, however, came off a penalty kick and not in open play for both teams. With two draws and one win, France barely managed to advance to the knockout stage.

Come Round of 16, France played against Belgium and won 1-0. The goal was again an own goal by Belgium player Jan Vertonghen in the 85th minute of the match.

In the quarterfinal against Portugal, both teams were goalless after 90-minute regular time and 30 minutes of extra time. The game then moved to penalty shootout which France won 5-3. France will now face Spain in the semifinal on Wednesday (Jul 10).

Portugal coach offers update on Ronaldo's future

Cristiano Ronaldo has already announced that he's playing in his last European championship. After the game, Portugal coach Roberto Martinez was asked about the 39-year-old's future.

"We just finished the game, everything is still too raw, we're suffering a defeat as a team, there's no individual decisions at this point," Martinez told reporters.

The former Everton and Wigan coach said his team "deserved to win" against the 2018 World Cup winners.

"Today was a great game, an amazing performance," he added. "Tonight is not the night to look at errors, the only mistake is that the ball did not go in."

Portugal missed a penalty in the shootout which proved to be the difference between the two sides.