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HomeFootball PlayersVitinhaMatheus Nunes on for Vitinha – The New York Times

Matheus Nunes on for Vitinha – The New York Times

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Matheus Nunes on for Vitinha

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119′ Portugal 0-0 France

A change with penalties in mind? Vitinha comes off — and Matheus Nunes comes on.

France missing the initiative

118′ Portugal 0-0 France

It’s surprised me how passive France have been for much of this tie, but maybe it shouldn’t have.

Portugal have been here before, and they know they have a goalkeeper who’s pretty good at saving penalties.

Into the final throes we go.

A two-speed player who should be seen more

A two-speed player who should be seen more

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116′ Portugal 0-0 France

Barcola showing his double speed there — he slows defenders down really well (even one-v-two here) then accelerates to get away.

He should really try and square that rather than shooting, but he’s early into his international career.

There’s an increasingly justified argument that Deschamps needs to find a system which fits him with Mbappe, not one or the other — they did against Poland in the final group-stage game and looked much more cohesive in the final-third.

Barcola raises the heart rate

Barcola raises the heart rate

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115′ Portugal 0-0 France

Ah, Barcola! What a jinking run. He ghosted past two, into the box…

But his shot is wild and disappears behind the goal without troubling Costa.

In the market for a leader

112′ Portugal 0-0 France

France have very few leaders on the pitch with Mbappe and Griezmann being substituted.

Kante is wearing the armband and he is hardly the galvanising type of communicator.

Joao Felix ruffles the net

Joao Felix ruffles the net

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108′ Portugal 0-0 France

Chance. Conceicao has been lively since coming on and again he breaks down the left, before chipping a right-footed cross to the far post.

Joao Felix is rushing in, but he can only direct his header into the side-netting.

Mbappe comes off ahead of restart

Mbappe comes off ahead of restart

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106′ Portugal 0-0 France

Now then. Changes at the extra time interval, which at this point usually include thoughts ahead of a possible shootout.

Portugal bring on Joao Felix for Leao.

As for France, it’s a big one. Mbappe — clearly struggling with his broken nose and mask — comes off, with PSG’s Bradley Barcola into the action.

We’re back underway again.

Yeah, I get it

Yeah, I get it

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After covering Turkey, attending this game is, I suspect, what it feels like to come back to work after Glastonbury.

HT (ET): Portugal 0-0 France

And that’s the break. It leaves just 15 minutes of extra time before we head to penalties.

I’m not convinced there’s a goal in this one, to be honest.

Leao denied by Upamecano

Leao denied by Upamecano

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102′ Portugal 0-0 France

What a block from Upamecano, who gets in the way of Leao’s shot when it looked like the forward was all set to bend one into the top corner.

Aside from these sudden sparks, the game remains flat and the crowd sounds anxious.

It’s been a strange, cagey old quarter-final this.

Not so close range

Not so close range

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101′ Portugal 0-0 France

We’ve reached the 100th minute mark and France are yet to register a shot on target inside the box.

Dembele run; Pepe at it again

96′ Portugal 0-0 France

Sensational run from Dembele, who earns the right to have a go at goal himself. Instead, he plays it wide to Mbappe who eventually takes aim — only for Pepe to block and celebrate as before.

Thuram ends the attack by firing into the stands.

But if there was one player who looks capable of winning this match, Dembele would probably get your vote. He’d definitely get mine.

Ronaldo skews over

Ronaldo skews over

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93′ Portugal 0-0 France

Oh my, what a chance. Conceicao on the run, to the byline. He cuts it back for Ronaldo who’s peeled into space brilliantly — but he mistimes his strike, firing horribly over the bar from a few yards.

Rank finish, but the movement was so good. And still he stays on the pitch.

Time for some speeches

Time for some speeches

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91′ Portugal 0-0 France

France went into a quick huddle but were out on the pitch ready to go. Portugal, meanwhile, received a rousing speech from Martinez.

EXTRA TIME: So it begins

EXTRA TIME: So it begins

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91′ Portugal 0-0 France

We’re back underway for the first 15-minute half of extra time, France kicking off and doing so with Fofana added to the XI — Camavinga the man to make way.

Too rotation heavy

Loved every bit of that Pepe and Thuram chase. Jugadors. Held his own and got back.

Anyway, I’ve found Portugal to be too rotation-heavy with their midfielders in build-up tonight.

Palhinha has dropped out between or beside the centre-backs lots, with Vitinha dropping deep too.

They’re lacking a presence beyond France’s midfield to play off Ronaldo, receive passes or pin the French midfield deeper. As a result they’ve been forced out wide.

Another iconic moment from Pepe

One of the final moments we did get in the 90 was Pepe chasing down a freshly introduced Marcus Thuram (for Kolo Muani) at full pelt across almost an entire half of the pitch.

In the end, he recovers to the point he cuts out the cross. He screams into the air and the Portuguese fans scream back. What a vintage.

FT: Portugal 0-0 France

FT: Portugal 0-0 France

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And there we are. The outcome that looked most likely from the outset: and extra 30 minutes to find a winner.

Mbappe has an effort on goal just before the final whistle, but it’s easy for Costa.

So the players get a short break and for the fourth time in five Euros meetings between these two, we head into extra time.

Neves on for Palhinha

Neves on for Palhinha

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90+2′ Portugal 0-0 France

Into the second of three added minutes then, and Palhinha comes off with Ruben Neves now on the pitch.

Extra time is on the horizon.

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