TugaScout is an English-language site reporting on matters associated with Portuguese football by freelance writer Alex Goncalves, offering the latest news, reviews and opinions surrounding the Portuguese League and the Seleção players based abroad.

And so Portugal's journey comes to an end

And so Portugal's journey comes to an end

Portugal succumbed to a 5-3 penalty shootout defeat to France after a tense 120-minute battle ended goalless in Hamburg.

In what proved to be a cagey and cautious affair, clear-cut chances were few and far between, but it was arguably Portugal who had the best opportunities to take the lead.

An inability to break the deadlock saw the game progress to penalties however, and after Cristiano Ronaldo and Bernardo Silva scored from the spot, it was João Felix who was unable to convert, his clean strike hitting the base of the post and seeing France take control of the spot kicks.

Unlike the heroics against Slovenia, there was no Diogo Costa rescue mission on this occasion and, in a game of fine-margins, Felix was the only man not to hit the back of the net during the shootout.

Dembele, Fofana, Kounde and Barcola scored for France before Nuno Mendes rifled into the top corner for Portugal. It was only a consolation though, as Theo Hernandez sent Diogo Costa the wrong way before slotting home to win the game for France, ending Portugal's Euro 2024 journey at the quarterfinal stage.

Portugal's player of the tournament

Portugal's player of the tournament

Calls for "outstanding" Artur Soares Dias to referee the Euros final after his Austria-Türkiye officiating performance

Calls for "outstanding" Artur Soares Dias to referee the Euros final after his Austria-Türkiye officiating performance