Jules Kounde reveals how Barcelona training helped him during France vs Portugal | OneFootball

France made it through to the semi-finals of the UEFA Euro 2024 after they defeated Portugal via penalty shootouts on Friday night.

And, without a doubt, Barcelona’s Jules Kounde has been one of the MVPs for Les Bleus so far at the tournament in Germany.

After dishing out a top display in the Round of 16 against Belgium, when he tied down Jeremy Doku, Kounde excelled again on Friday night, keeping Rafael Leao quiet for the most part.

The 25-year-old defender then followed it up with a brilliant penalty kick during the shootouts that left Portugal’s Diogo Costa with no chance.

Barcelona training comes in handy for Kounde

Speaking after the game, Kounde revealed that he has been working on penalties while training with Barcelona and that is why he requested France manager Didier Deschamps to take a spot-kick.

The defender confirmed that it was the first penalty he had taken since his youth career, but felt confident thanks to the work he had put in during the training sessions at Barça.

“[It] is the first one I’ve taken since I was a youth player,” said Kounde, as quoted by Mundo Deportivo.

“I regularly practise taking penalties in Barcelona’s training sessions, I like it. That’s why I asked the coach to let me take it,” he added.

Kounde has been brilliant at the Euros. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Up next: Nico Williams

Playing at right-back for France, Kounde has dealt with two deadly wingers in Jeremy Doku and Rafael Leao in his last two matches at the Euros.

In the semi-finals, when France play Spain, the Barcelona defender will come up against a certain Nico Williams – who has been one of the best forwards at the Euros thus far and happens to be a summer target for the Blaugrana.

Speaking about the prospect of facing the Athletic Club winger, Kounde remarked:

“It’s true, there are several big players I’m facing, but that’s why I play football! I love big games, they help me improve and get better.”

“I’m always very excited to play against these players, I try to face the challenge at all times,” he added, looking forward to the challenge of facing Nico.