Analysing the France vs Portugal penalty shootout: Ronaldo’s stutter, Mbappe’s stress, Pepe’s tears

Hamburg: Pepe is sobbing into Cristiano Ronaldo’s arms, a combined 80 years and 353 caps, possibly both drawing to an end.

At the other end of Hamburg’s Volksparkstadion, France’s players are dancing to Freed From Desire.

But when you win a penalty shootout, it is only freedom that matters, not the circumstances of it.

In front of the French squad are hundreds of tricolore flags, and they are bouncing. Just as, two minutes earlier, Kylian Mbappe was bouncing on his haunches in agitated stress watching his team-mates try their luck from 12 yards, having been substituted in extra time.

Before walking off, Ronaldo gazes over at Mbappe. There are 80 yards and a world between them.

This was a tie that deserved penalties, seemingly the only way that either side would find the net. They each had their chances — France through Eduardo Camavinga and Randal Kolo Muani, Portugal through Ronaldo, Vitinha, and Joao Felix — but grasped at their shots.

In five games at Euro 2024, France and their opponents have only produced four goals, and all have been either own goals or penalties. Yet they are somehow in the semi-final — in the end, they did not even need to save a penalty to get there.