Euro 2024, Portugal in quarters: Diogo Costa hero, Ronaldo redeems himself. Slovenia knocked out
Euro 2024, Portugal in quarters: Diogo Costa hero, Ronaldo redeems himself. Slovenia knockout
Portugal qualifies for the quarterfinals of Euro 2024 thanks to a victory on penalties against Slovenia: after 120' of great tension (Cristiano Ronaldo bursts into tears after a mistake from the penalty spot) and concluded 0-0, the challenge is decided from the eleven meters: the Lusitanians pass thanks to the great performance of their goalkeeper Diogo Costa, who saves three penalties. In the quarters Martinez’s selection will challenge France.
Portugal plays the game in the first half, while Slovenia thinks mainly about defending. The Lusitanians commanded the game but failed to materialize the many goal chances created, a bit due to Cristiano Ronaldo's inaccuracy, a bit due to Oblak's excellent watching. Very active Leao on the left flank, but Portugal fails to make the most of his constant push.
Resumed, Slovenia remains very compact and begins to show up in Diogo Costa’s sides with the insidious Sesko. Cristiano Ronaldo continues to struggle in attack, and manages to make himself dangerous only once on spot kicks. Martinez decides to change the attack, inside Diogo Jota and Conceiçao for Vitinha and Leao, Ronaldo at 90' has a great chance on his feet but shoots centrally and Oblak is not surprised.
It goes to extra time: Portugal has the golden chance when Drkusic knocks down Diogo Jota in the box. Orsato awards the penalty but Oblak with a diving feat deflects Cristiano Ronaldo's conclusion on the post, who at the end of the first extra time bursts into tears for his mistake and is consoled by his teammates.
The blow to morale è was too hard for Portugal, which can no longer make itself dangerous and risks a lot: at 115' Pepe loses the ball, Sesko runs towards Portugal’s goal but gets hypnotized on one-on-one with Diogo Costa who saves everything with his foot.
In the lottery of penalties the Portuguese extreme defender again turns into Superman and saves on Ilicic, Balkovec and Verbic, while Ronaldo redeems himself by scoring the first against Oblak. The Lusitanians do nothing wrong and clinch the quarters.
