Euro 2024 | Portugal beat Slovenia on penalties to join France in quarter-finals

(Frankfurt) Having gone from frustration to ecstasy after a historic penalty shootout by goalkeeper Diogo Costa, who made three saves, Portugal overcame Slovenia on Monday in Frankfurt (0-0, 3-0 on penalties) to join France in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024.

After the France-Belgium clash (1-0), the semi-final match of the 2018 World Cup, the Blues will therefore have the right to a rematch against the executioner of their dream at home in the final of Euro-2016, eight years after Eder’s winning goal, which remains etched in the memories of millions of French people.

Despite their plethora of players full of excellent ball handlers, Portugal had been warned: at this stage of the competition there are no more “small” nations, only tough opponents. Slovenia, qualified for the last 16 of a major tournament for the first time in its history, was one until the end.

It was only after 120 minutes of superhuman effort that the team finally lost, in front of a goalkeeper in a state of grace, who turned away three attempts from Ilicic, Balkovec and Verbic, while Cristiano Ronaldo, who had burst into tears after missing the penalty that qualified for extra time (105^e) showed great composure as he converted his team’s first shot. Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes and Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva also showed no signs of faltering.

Ronaldo frustrated then released

Before this epic epilogue, Ronaldo, still in search of the success that had eluded him until now for the first time in his career during a major international tournament, tried hard to be once again the savior of his country. And incidentally the oldest player to score in a Euro, at 39 years old.

But he did not succeed, largely due to a long-heroic Slovenian defense, led by central defender Vanja Drkusic, unsinkable in duels, including in the air, yet one of the strong points of the top scorer in the history of the Seleção (130 goals in 211 matches).

Several times too short to correctly take up the good crosses from Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes (4^e14^e31^e36^e) the Al-Nassr striker spent a lot of time claiming fouls from his opponents, without success, with Italian referee Daniele Orsato deciding to let play continue despite several contentious situations.

A sign that his obsession with goals has not weakened, “CR7” wanted to recall his power of free kicks, but his four attempts (34^e38^e55^e72^e) either largely escaped the frame or found themselves in the path of Atlético Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak, who was still imperious in the 89th minute.^e minute to push away the cross shot from the ex-Real scorer, who had finally escaped the Slovenian pincers.

On the Slovenian side, Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, a formidable support for his teammates and generous in his efforts, may have had the balls of qualification at the end of his feet, but he completely crushed his attempt with his left foot after resisting Pepe’s return (62^e), before seeing Diogo Costa save his final opportunity with his foot (115^e).

A surprise guest in the knockout phase, Slovenia did not get the reward it could have hoped for after such a performance, but it can easily leave with its head held high, claiming that it held its own – in the game – against two of the greatest nations in world football, England (0-0) and Portugal (0-0).