EURO 2024
Portugal survive Slovenia scare to progress
Cristiano Ronaldo missed an extra-time penalty but achieved redemption in a shootout where goalkeeper Diogo Costa delivered an all-star performance to deny Slovenia in the Round of 16.
Portugal 0-0 Slovenia (Portugal win 3-0 on penalties aet)
A meeting with France in Friday's quarter-final in Hamburg was the prize for these sides, who had only ever met once before this last 16 encounter. Slovenia won that friendly game in Ljubljana last March but they were content to sit in against a Portugal team looking to bounce back from a surprise group-stage loss against Georgia last time out. Roberto Martinez's men made plenty of running but a Joáo Palhinha strike against the outside of a post was as good as it got for the 2016 champions in the opening 45'. The problem for Portugal was that although they bossed the possession stakes, they were facing a side who lost just one of their previous 15 games. A couple of Ronaldo free kicks aside, there was little in the way of a clear opening for the Seleção as Slovenia held firm. That was until Vanja Drkušić upended Diogo Jota in the area in extra-time. Ronaldo placed the ball for the spot-kick but looked on in despair when his penalty was superbly saved by Jan Oblak. Leipzig's Benjamin Šeško then failed to compound Portugal's misery when clean through against Diogo Costa. The miss would prove costly, with Ronaldo saving face in a shootout where Costa starred as Portugal set up a repeat of the 2016 final against France in the last eight.