EURO 2024 | Portugal 0-0 Slovenia: CR7 in tears, Diogo Costa the shoot-out hero

July 2, 2024

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Slovenia put in a valiant efficiency to drive Portugal to further time, together with a Jan Oblak penalty save that lowered Cristiano Ronaldo to tears, however Diogo Costa was the hero with three shoot-out saves.

The Portuguese will now face France within the EURO 2024 quarter-final on Friday.

After lacking the final group recreation as a consequence of suspension, incomes two yellow playing cards for simulation, Rafael Leao returned to the beginning XI with Cristiano Ronaldo in opposition to spectacular Udinese defender Jaka Bijol.

Ronaldo simply didn’t get his head to a Bernardo Silva cross, whereas Rafael Leao turned on the turbo to run at aim till he was felled by Vanja Drkusic, for a free kick that CR7 blasted inches over the bar.

Benjamin Sekso smashed one into the arms of the goalkeeper, whereas on the stroke of half-time Joao Palhinha clipped the surface of the publish on a Leao help.

A Cristiano Ronaldo free kick break up the wall and was parried by Jan Oblak, then Sesko beat Pepe in a dash race solely to scuff the end large.

Rafael Leao appeared irritated and pissed off as he was substituted by Francisco Conceicao on 76 minutes, however he once more didn’t ship.

Ronaldo was despatched by way of by Diogo Jota on the 89^th minute solely to fireplace the angled drive straight at Oblak.

It was goalless and needed to go to further time, however Italian referee Daniele Orsato awarded a penalty when Diogo Jota sprinted into the field and went down crashing into Drkusic. Cristiano Ronaldo stepped up and noticed the spot-kick saved by Oblak onto the publish.

Cristiano Ronaldo MISSES from the spot! ❌#BBCEuros #Euro2024 #PORSVN pic.twitter.com/nsDwV5ezTL

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 1, 2024

The previous Juventus star was distraught and burst into tears through the half-time break of additional time, however needed to proceed enjoying moments later.

Cristiano Ronaldo is in tears 😢#BBCEuros #Euro2024 #PORSVN pic.twitter.com/632i0tRRFU

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 1, 2024

Oblak additionally pushed a Palhinha header over the bar and former Atalanta star Josip Ilicic got here on, making his return to worldwide soccer after struggling together with his psychological well being.

Sesko missed one other big likelihood when despatched clear by a stumble from 41-year-old Pepe, however was denied one-on-one by Diogo Costa’s boot.

It went to a penalty shoot-out, the primary of EURO 2024 and Ilicic’s opener was saved, however this time Cristiano Ronaldo did convert.

Diogo Costa became the hero for Portugal, saving additionally from Jure Balkovec and Benjamin Verbic, as Portugal undergo to face France within the quarter-final.