Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot was suspended in Hamburg, so Eduardo Camavinga stepped in and Inter striker Marcus Thuram dropped to the bench for Randal Kolo Muani. Milan trio Rafael Leao, Mike Maignan and Theo Hernandez all started the quarter-final.
Theo Hernandez hit a rocket that stung the gloves of Diogo Costa, who was the hero when Portugal beat Slovenia in a penalty shoot-out for the Round of 16.
Rafael Leao nutmegged France defender Jules Koundé and then skinned him again down that flank.
After the restart, Kylian Mbappé fired into the arms of the goalkeeper from outside the box, while Nuno Mendes bizarrely launched into a dive when he was clear on goal.
Camavinga had to make a huge tackle on Leao inside the six-yard box and Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan needed a great save on the Bruno Fernandes angled drive.
Maignan did even better moments later with a reaction save on Vitinha, who had been set up by Rafael Leao for the tap-in from close range.
Kolo Muani was sent through to score for France from 12 yards, but a decisive Ruben Dias block deflected it wide, while Camavinga pulled a shot across the face of goal from six yards after a lucky ricochet and Ousmane Dembele’s curler flashed just off target.
William Saliba had to throw himself in the way of a Bernardo Silva strike and 41-year-old Pepe perfectly timed the tackle on Inter striker Marcus Thuram.
It went to extra time and Cristiano Ronaldo ballooned over the bar from close range, while Pepe blocked the Mbappé effort after a strong Dembele run.
Rafael Leao was also denied by a desperate block and Joao Felix turned his header against the side-netting, but at the last minute Nuno Mendes and Thuram both failed to make the most of opportunities.
It went to a penalty shoot-out, confirming France scored just three goals in five games, two of them were own goals and one a penalty.
Diogo Costa saved all three against Slovenia, but here Joao Felix made the only mistake by drilling it against the upright and Milan’s Theo Hernandez kept his cool to convert the winner.
Theo Hernandez books France’s place in the #Euro2024 semi-finals 🇫🇷
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
