Kylian Mbappe explained his substitution in overtime, stating, "I told the coach that I no longer felt anything, I was too tired." A 41-year-old defender was seen in tears in Cristiano Ronaldo's arms, marking an emotional moment as Portugal begins to acknowledge the end of an era for some of their veteran players in the national team.
The French national team has yet to score a field goal from its own player at Euro 2024, relying on two own goals and a penalty from Mbappe. However, they have only conceded one goal, the fewest in the tournament, which has helped them reach the semifinals. On Friday, Didier Deschamps' team defeated Portugal in the quarterfinals, winning 5-3 on penalties after a 0-0 draw at the end of 120 minutes. They will face Spain in the next stage on Tuesday in what promises to be a great battle.
Kylian Mbappe, who has been struggling with playing while wearing a mask, received a blow to the face from the ball in the 55th minute. After taking off the mask and receiving treatment for several minutes, he continued to play but found it increasingly difficult to make an impact. As a result, he was substituted at the beginning of the second half of extra time.
The emotional farewell for some of Portugal's veteran players and France's solid defensive performance set the stage for an intense semifinal clash against Spain. Deschamps' tactical decisions and the resilience of his team have been crucial in their journey so far, and the upcoming match will be another test of their championship aspirations.
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