Missed penalty was bad luck says Martinez as Portugal exit Euros in shootout

HAMBURG, Germany : Portugal manager Roberto Martinez said there was no blame to cast after Joao Felix missed the penalty that resulted in their exit from the European Championship and likely brought the curtain down on Cristiano Ronaldo's international career.

Felix fired his penalty against the post - the only miss of the shootout - and then buried his face in his hands, with France winning 5-3 in Friday's quarter-final after a goalless stalemate at the end of extra time.

"I can tell you that the whole squad was supporting each other and only players who never shoot a penalty never miss," Martinez said. "Joao has great control of the inside game, he worked hard to be there and this penalty is bad luck."

The miss from the 24-year-old Atletico Madrid forward gave France the advantage and Theo Hernandez fired past goalkeeper Diogo Costa - who had been superb in stopping three Slovenia penalties in the last 16 - to send France to the semi-finals.

The loss likely marked the end of Ronaldo's 21-year international career, as he has said his record sixth Euros tournament would be his last.

The 39-year-old converted Portugal's first kick in the shootout but was also responsible for squandering perhaps their best chance of the night.

After the final whistle, centre-back Pepe collapsed sobbing into Ronaldo's arms, the curtain surely also coming down on the 41-year-old defender's international career.

"Pepe is everything he showed in the tournament, not just during the matches, but the way he works through training sessions, the way he supports his colleagues, his commitment," Martinez said.

"And his tears are tears of frustration. Because when you play against the better opponents, there's no tears. The tears are there because it's