Maignan and Saliba impermeable, Mbappé ghostly… The Blues’ scores in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024

The defensive solidity of the Blues allowed them to overcome another obstacle in this tournament on Friday, where they are now just one step away from the final.

It was tough, but it’s done! The players of the French team are in the semi-finals of Euro 2024. At the end of an extremely close match, but without a goal, against Portugal, Friday July 5, they snatched their victory thanks to a clean sheet in the penalty shootout (0-0, 5-3 pen). In this memorable evening, Kylian Mbappé will have greatly disappointed, but others were there, starting with Mike Maignan and William Saliba.

Mike Maignan: 8/10

Whether the storm is announced or arrives unexpectedly, he is always ready. Once again, he did not have many saves to make, but he made them in the space of two minutes. First, he perfectly closed the angle against Bruno Fernandes (61st), then was the author of a stunning double save, at close range against Vitinha and by closing the angle on a backheel from Cristiano Ronaldo (63rd). No saves to report in the penalty shootout, but far from being off-topic.

Jules Kounde: 5/10

He sometimes had a hard time against Rafael Leao (and sometimes Nuno Mendes), but Portugal never took advantage of it. Physically fit, he finished the match better than his opposite number and we can’t blame him for a lack of activity in his wing. His right foot didn’t tremble during the penalty shootout.

Dayot Upamecano: 7/10

Another good game. He has his share of responsibility for the fact that France did not concede a single goal in 120 minutes. His save in the 102nd minute from Rafael Leao is his most notable gesture.

William Saliba: 8/10

Excellent, quite simply. Perfect in reading trajectories and in coverage, to the point that we wondered if Cristiano Ronaldo was really on the pitch. He is warned but cannot do much better to intervene on Francisco Conceiçao (84th).

Theo Hernandez: 5/10

Discreet for 120 minutes, he was the one who delivered the Blues and secured the ticket to Munich by scoring the winning penalty. We will forgive him for his waste with the ball and even for being dropped by Francisco Conceiçao in extra time. In any case, on this action, Cristiano Ronaldo had decided to send the ball to the moon (93rd).

Aurelien Tchouameni: 6/10

Good in his role as a filler, but also in his ability to spread the game on the wings thanks to his licked crosses. He must adjust the sights on his attempts from afar.

N’Golo Kante: 5.5/10

Still as hyperactive, but so frustrating in his choices, a little too conservative. The initiative is there, but he lacks sharpness, like his shots that look like passes for the goalkeeper at the end of the second period (88th, 89th).

Eduardo Camavinga: 7/10

He had the difficult task of replacing the suspended Adrien Rabiot, and he did it very well. The youngest French starter in the knockout phase of a Euro since Nicolas Anelka in 2000, he did not suffer from any complexes. The Madrilenian was inspired in his risk-taking, through passing or in his defensive comebacks. However, he had to convert his huge opportunity (70th) – perhaps the biggest of the match –, concluded by a shot that was too crossed. Replaced by Youssouf Fofana (90th)who converted his shot on goal.

Antoine Griezmann: 4/10

We still haven’t found the Griezmann of the World Cup. Placed back in the heart of the game, he participated in a few nice moves without making a major difference. He ruined a situation that he himself created by recovering the ball in his own half and then pushing it too far (54th). Replaced by Ousmane Dembélé (67th)who tried a lot, with fluctuating success. We will remember that he put the Blues back on the right path and that he perfectly started the penalty shootout.

Randal Kolo Muani: 4/10

Like a flashback to the World Cup final. He had the chance that could have changed everything, but fate didn’t want to reward him. After Emiliano Martinez’s save, he will probably think back to Ruben Dias’ tackle, which deflected his shot just wide (66th). His great defensive work won’t be enough to make us forget his lack of accuracy in the penalty area, where he was expected. Replaced by Marcus Thuram (86th).

Kylian Mbappé: 2/10

It’s in these kinds of matches that you remember that you’re a great player. Tonight, he wasn’t there. Apart from a cross that forced Diogo Costa to save (22nd), Kylian Mbappé didn’t create anything of his own. The magic didn’t work. We’ll still remember this comeback to hinder the header of a Bernardo Silva in a dangerous position at the far post, which earned him a blow to his fractured nose (54th). Even Didier Deschamps acknowledged the fact that his captain wouldn’t be the one to turn the match around and took him off before the second half of extra time for replace him with Bradley Barcola (105th)who converted his penalty.