Portugal vs France WC 2006 Semi-Final

Lore & Background

The 2006 World Cup was the 18th edition of the tournament. Italy won the final, defeating France 5–3 in a penalty shoot-out after a 1–1 draw. Germany defeated Portugal 3–1 to finish third. Brazil, the defending champions, were eliminated by France in the quarter-finals.

In Their Own Story

The floodlights hummed over Gelsenkirchen as the 25th minute ticked by. Cristiano Ronaldo stepped up to the penalty spot, the weight of a nation on his shoulders. He struck true, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way. The stadium erupted for Portugal, but before the celebration could settle, the referee's whistle blew. A headbutt in retaliation against William Gallas had sealed his fate. As he walked toward the tunnel with his hands behind his back, the young captain knew the burden of leadership would now fall entirely on his teammates.

Reader's Guide

Portugal's semi-final against France was part of the knockout stage. France's victory set up a final against Italy, while Portugal played Germany in the third-place match.

Did You Know?

• Germany defeated Portugal 3–1 to finish third in the 2006 World Cup.
• Italy won the 2006 World Cup, their fourth title, by beating France on penalties.
• The 2006 final attracted an estimated audience of 715.1 million people.