Portugal Knocked Out By France, Pepe: Football Is Really Cruel

Portugal defender Pepe in the match against France in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024. (X/@EURO2024)

JAKARTA - Portugal had to be eliminated in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024. Through a tight battle against France, they lost 5-3 on penalties. Defender Pepe admitted that football was cruel because Portugal won on penalties and was then eliminated in the same way. Portugal lost its sharpness and was unable to score during the knockout round. In the last 16 against Slovenia, Bruno Fernandes et al were only able to draw 0-0 and then won on penalties 3-0.

When the match against France in the quarter-finals also ended goalless, Selecao das Quinas looked confident when he entered the penalty shootout.

Moreover, France has been abandoned by captain Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann for substitution.

However, Les Bleus managed to complete all the executions. On the other hand, Portugal failed after Joao Felix's shot hit the post.

Portugal's fifth kicker is not needed because France was 5-3 ahead when Theo Hernandez completed his execution.

"Football is cruel. And, sadness is part of the game. We want to be champions for our country and make people joy. In the previous match, we won on penalties. Now, we lost on penalties too," said Pepe.

"But the most important thing is congratulations to all the players. They play with commitment," he said.

Midfielder Vitinha is one of the Portuguese players who actually got a chance to score. But that opportunity missed because his shot was saved by goalkeeper Mike Maignan.

"We have given everything. But it all ends in pain. Today it belongs to France. But other times it might be ours," said French Ligue 1 club midfielder Paris Saint-Germain.

Meanwhile, winger Bernardo Silva tried to entertain himself by saying that the team that played well did not necessarily win the game.

"This is football. And, it's a big tournament with matches to finish for 90 minutes, 120 minutes and a penalty shootout. The best team doesn't always win," Silva said.

"The penalty shootout in the round of 16 may hurt Slovenia. Now, it hurts us. We also have to stick together because we will continue to work hard," he said.

Portugal, who still relies on Cristiano Ronaldo, started the fight at Euro 2024 very well in the group stage. They won over Rep. Czech and Turkish.

However, Portugal, who fielded part of the reserve players, surrendered 2-0 against the Georgia unseeded team.

The defeat against Georgia seemed to affect the confidence of Portuguese players even though they came down with second-tier players.

Roberto Martinez's team actually contains talented players in each line and even this position has an anticlimax in the knockout round.

They had to work hard when they got rid of Slovenia and eventually ran aground in Les Bleus' hands.