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When it was finally over Cristiano Ronaldo turned away, pulled the captain’s armband from his sleeve and wandered off - if this is not the end for him in international football then he will be in his fifth decade by the time of the next World Cup finals.

Portugal had lost it on penalties, more precisely their third spot-kick from Joao Felix, once briefly of Chelsea, now back at Atletico Madrid, and thrown on as a substitute in the second half of a frankly dreadful tie. He was the man who lost his nerve this time, striking a shot against the post. Diogo Costa, the **Portugal hero of the previous round, did not get near enough to any of the France penalties, including the decisive fifth from the full-back Theo Hernandez.

France will play Spain in the first semi-final in Munich on Tuesday. This was a game of precious little drama given the sparkling array of high-end European talent that contested it. A tired game of elite footballers trying desperately not to make the mistake that might lose the tie. Kylian Mbappe nursing a sore nose and substituted before the penalties. Ronaldo nursing a whole career through another 120 minutes and more. Others, including Bruno Fernandes, were substituted but not the Portugal captain.

Indeed, Ronaldo looked lost in his own reverie by the end. A man acutely aware that the camera is on him at all times, he scored his penalty, the first of five. When Joao Felix missed his penalty, Ronaldo did not move from the line of Portugal players on the halfway line. Others, including the old man of the side, Pepe, 41, moved towards Felix to console him.