Going International: Barca star defender opens upon his ice-cold penalty at the Euros
- Kounde's penalty helped France get past Portugal in the Euro Quarterfinals.
- When interviewed about the penalty, the Frenchman replied that he was calm and confident taking the shot.
After the conclusion of one of the most awaited fixtures of the Euros, Portugal vs France in the Quarterfinals, Jules Kounde has recently opined his views on the tie-decider penalty.
The high-voltage encounter glued the football fans to their TV sets. From great chances and counterattacks to solid defending at both ends, the Cristiano Ronaldo vs Kylian Mbappe rivalry proved an all-time classic.
Kounde's penalty took France to the Semis
The match eventually went on to the penalties, where France got past the Portuguese team, 5-3. At a stage when the tie stood at 2-2 in penalties, Jules Kounde stepped up to take the next shot, which indeed proved to be the most decisive one.
Kounde, shooting an inch-perfect rocket in the top left corner, had Diego Costa all squared up, as the goalkeeper stood no chance to stop the shot. Consecutively, Joao Felix's shot came off the post, which made Portugal get behind, ultimately losing it on penalties.
Kounde's say on his ice-cold penalty
Kounde's penalty, being an absolute beauty, one of its kind, took the footballing world by storm. Surprised by the shot's elegance, media interviewers asked Kounde about how the Frenchman felt when executing the penalty' Kounde replied,
""I wasn't nervous. I was confident.""
- Jules Kounde(via interview)
His statement just shows the power back's ability to remain calm and composed, even during crunch situations. Being a crucial piece of France's backline, Coach Didier Deschamps counts a lot on the defender as France faces the mighty Spain in the semifinals.
Brazilian wonderkid's father met with Barcelona before joining Chelsea. dark. Next. Brazilian wonderkid's father met with Barcelona before joining Chelsea
Moreover, with club football just a few weeks away, FC Barcelona hopes the French star continues his rich form in La Liga. With the Catalan club troubled with the back-to-back injuries of Pedri and Ronald Araujo, the role of Kounde becomes immensely important. Being the most experienced defender in the club, Kounde needs to start at the heart of Barca's defense as the Catalan giants hope to kickstart their 2024/25 campaign in style.
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