Portugal 0-0 France: Mbappe Denied as Blues Struggle to Break Down Ronaldo's Men
Heroic Portugal Hold World Champions to Draw
Les Bleus Frustrated by Resilient Portuguese Defense
Lisbon, Portugal - Portugal and France played out a thrilling 0-0 draw in the second quarterfinal of the UEFA European Championships, with Kylian Mbappe denied a late winner by a heroic Portuguese defense.
France, the reigning world champions, dominated possession but struggled to find a way through Portugal's resolute backline. Mbappe, who scored a hat-trick against Argentina in the last 16, was a constant threat but was ultimately frustrated by the likes of Ruben Dias and Pepe.
Portugal, inspired by Cristiano Ronaldo, defended resolutely and showed great organization. The Portuguese talisman had a few chances but was unable to find the target. The match remained goalless until the final minutes, when Mbappe burst into the box and dragged the ball back, but his shot was blocked by a desperate last-ditch tackle.
The draw means that both teams will now have to prepare for a penalty shootout to decide who will advance to the semifinals. Portugal will be looking to continue their giant-killing run, while France will be desperate to avoid an embarrassing exit.
The match was a testament to the strength of Portugal's defense and the resilience of their team. Ronaldo and his teammates proved that they are capable of mixing it with the very best, and they will be confident of causing an upset in the semifinals.
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