Portugal went from disappointment to euphoria after a historic penalty shootout by goalkeeper Diogo Costa, who saved three shots, and beat Slovenia on Monday in Frankfurt (0-0, 3-0) to join France in the quarter-finals of the World Cup. Euro 2024.
After the shock of France and Belgium (1-0), the poster of the 2018 World Cup semi-final, the Blues will have the right to take revenge on the executioner of their dream on their home soil in the Euro 2016 final. This is eight years after the winning goal scored by Eder, which remains engraved in the memory of millions of French.
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Despite their bloated squad filled with excellent ball-handling players, Portugal were warned: at this stage of the competition there were no longer “small” nations, only strong contenders. Slovenia qualified for the last 16 of a major tournament for the first time in their history, all the way to the end.
They finally lost only after 120 minutes of superhuman effort against a goalkeeper in good form, who saved all three attempts by Ilic, Balkovic and Verbeek, while Cristiano Ronaldo, who had been in tears after missing a qualifying penalty in extra time (105), showed tremendous composure by converting his team's first shot. Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes and Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva did not flinch either.
Ronaldo frustrated then released
Before this epic conclusion, Ronaldo, who was still searching for the success that had eluded him for the first time in his career at a major international tournament, tried to be his country's savior once again. Incidentally, the oldest player to score at the Euros is 39 years old.
But it did not work, and the fault, to a large extent, is the heroic and long Slovenian defense, led by midfielder Vanja Drkosic, impenetrable in duels, including in the air, and yet one of the strengths of the best scorer in the history of the Seleção (130 goals in 211 matches).
Several very short times to receive good crosses from Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes (4th, 14th, 31st, 36th) The Al-Nassr striker spent a lot of time calling for opposing fouls, to no avail, after the Italian referee Daniele Orsato decided to call them. Let a lot of play despite several controversial situations.
In a sign that his goal obsession has not waned, CR7 wanted to remember his attacking prowess from the free-kick, but his four attempts (34, 38, 55, 72) either went wide or found the ball in the way. Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak, again in the 89th minute, made a save to block the cross from the former Real Madrid striker, who finally escaped the Slovenian pincer.
On the Slovenian side, perhaps the qualifying balls were at his feet, Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, a huge support point for his partners and generosity in his efforts, but he completely crushed his left attempt after resisting Pepe's return (62) before Diogo Costa saved his last chance with his foot (minute 115).
Surprise guests in the knockout stage, Slovenia did not get the reward they were hoping for after this performance, but they can easily leave with their heads held high, claiming to have held their own – in the match – for two of the biggest nations in world football, England (0-0) and Portugal (0-0).
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