It took Antoine Dupont and his status as his sport’s best player to finally end Fiji’s dominance of Olympic rugby sevens, helping France win a gold medal at a raucous Stade de France. Dupont scored two tries and set up another after going on as a second-half replacement and France won a coveted title with a 28-7 victory.
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Lamine Yamal became the youngest goalscorer in European Championship history as Spain beat France in an absorbing contest to reach the final of Euro 2024. After Randal Kolo Muani headed in Kylian Mbappe’s cross to give France an early lead, Yamal curled home a stunning strike from outside the box and Spain were ahead just four minutes later as Dani Olmo’s shot was turned home by France defender Jules Kounde.
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France beat Portugal in a penalty shootout to reach the semi-finals of Euro 2024 after a tense showdown in Hamburg. Theo Hernandez scored the winning penalty after substitute Joao Felix hit the outside of the post with his effort, the only miss. Players sprinted over to the other end of the pitch to celebrate with fans afterwards, while Portugal, who had overcome Slovenia via a shootout five days ago, were left feeling deflated while they applauded their supporters.
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A late own goal by Jan Vertonghen sent France into the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 at Belgium’s expense. A game that had lacked quality and excitement for large periods looked destined for extra time, but a shot by substitute Randal Kolo Muani deflected off Vertonghen with five minutes remaining to seal the victory at Dusseldorf Arena. France had missed several chances before that as once again their lack of a cutting edge let them down.
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A masked Kylian Mbappe scored his first-ever Euros goal but France were held to a draw by an already-eliminated Poland to finish second in Group D. France needed all three points in order to seal top spot, but Robert Lewandowski’s 79th-minute penalty cancelled out Mbappe’s spot-kick 11 minutes into the second half. The result places France into a much tricker side of the draw as they seek a third European crown.
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