Football News: Ousmane Dembele Shines in Euro 2024 Penalty Shootout
Ousmane Dembele showcased his nerves of steel as he confidently converted his penalty with his weaker right foot during France’s Euro 2024 quarter-final shootout against Portugal. This isn’t the first time the French star has pulled off such a feat, and an interview has revealed the method behind his unorthodox approach.
The Paris Saint-Germain forward came on as a substitute in the 67th minute, replacing Antoine Griezmann, and delivered an impressive performance against Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portuguese teammates. With the match finishing 0-0 after extra time, Dembele stepped up to take the first penalty of the evening, sending Diogo Costa the wrong way and calmly slotting the ball into the bottom right-hand corner.
Dembele’s decision to use his ‘weaker’ right foot for spot-kicks is a tactic he has employed throughout his career. During his time with Rennes, when asked about his stronger foot, the 2018 World Cup winner stated, “Yeah, I’m more left-footed.” However, when questioned on why he takes penalties with his right foot, he revealed, “Because I shoot better with my right foot.”
“We had practised penalties and felt confident going into them,” Dembele said after the game. “The Qatar World Cup final loss helped us in that respect. I think we all took the goalkeeper by surprise because we sent him the wrong way.”
France’s penalty shootout triumph over Portugal sets up a semi-final clash with Spain, who defeated Germany 2-1 in extra time on Friday. Fans and pundits will eagerly await to see if Dembele’s nerves of steel and unconventional penalty-taking technique will continue to pay dividends as Les Bleus push for a place in the Euro 2024 final.
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