So it will be Portugal. Friday, Didier Deschamps’ men will face Roberto Martinez’s in the quarter-finals of the Euro, at 9 p.m., in Hamburg. A match that will smell of revenge. The same that the Belgians were looking for against the French and that the Blues will want to find again against those who deprived them of a victory at the Euro at home in 2016.
Les Bleus have known since their second place in the group stage that they will have to beat the big teams if they want to go all the way. After the victory against Belgium, Portugal, announced as one of the favorites of the competition, stands up to them. And even if their third group match, a defeat (0-2) against Georgia, marked a setback in their Euro, the Portuguese showed against Slovenia that they were also capable of getting out of a trap match.
Despite dominating the entire match (70% possession), Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates had few chances, even if the five-time Ballon d’Or winner was dangerous on free kicks on several occasions and especially at the end of regulation time, with a shot well caught by Oblak (89th). Solid defensively, the Slovenians snatched extra time. Cristiano Ronaldo even won a penalty (105th minute), but Jan Oblak stopped his shot without trembling.
In extra time, the Slovenians also had a great chance to win, in vain. Finally, after a one-sided penalty shootout, it was the Portuguese who proved to be the strongest, but failed to convince. Diogo Costa, the Portuguese goalkeeper, stopped all the Slovenian attempts, and this time, Ronaldo scored his, without trembling. Portugal is therefore qualified for the quarter-finals, against France. But what is this team really worth?
Earlier in the competition, Roberto Martinez’s men scored a major coup by winning (3-0) against Turkey in the group stage. A victory which then secured them first place in Group F after their initial success against the Czech Republic (2-1). Two games during which Portugal were able to respond to certain uncertainties, such as the presence in the starting eleven of their central defender Pepe, 41 years old.
Omnipresent in his area, author of saving interventions on several occasions, the Porto player, who became the oldest player to play in a Euro, had allowed his team to qualify and his absence during the last group match had been felt. Other players who had not played against Georgia, midfielders Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva, all three invaluable during the first group matches.
And even though Cristiano Ronaldo has still not scored a single goal in this Euro, even offering one on a silver platter to Bruno Fernandes against Turkey, the Seleção captain has also confirmed his starting place against a Gonçalo Ramos who has barely played in this Euro. Surrounded by a very free Bernardo Silva and a Rafael Leão who is still very active although looking for a goal, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner remains a constant danger and the French defense may well suffer by having to deal with him, if the latter still has enough energy to play a fifth consecutive match.
Against Slovenia, the Portuguese reminded all of Europe that no matter how, they must now be counted on for the final victory. Before the match, midfielder Joao Palhinha did not hide behind his little finger. “I see two teams (among the strongest in the Euro, editor’s note). Spain, who are always very strong, and Austria, who are proving to be a big surprise in this Euro. (…) Germany are also at a very good level. I think that after us, they are probably the strongest,” thundered the Fulham player.
Portugal can also count on a quality bench with changes that proved decisive. During the first match, while his players were struggling against the Czech Republic, Roberto Martinez decided to bring on Pedro Neto and Francisco Conceiçao, aged 24 and 21 respectively, in the 90th minute. A few dozen seconds later, the former broke through on his left side, crossed hard into the area and managed to find the latter, who scored his first goal with the national team. Proof that the Blues will have to hold out until the end of their quarter-final if they want to finish in the last four and secure a semi-final against Germany or Spain.
