Portugal – Slowenien 3:0 n. E. (0:0, 0:0)
Portugal is in the quarter-finals of the European Football Championship after a win against Slovenia. Slovenia gave the favourites plenty of trouble and earned a fair draw over 120 minutes. The 3-0 win was only decided in the penalty shootout.
Portugal had much more of the game, but Slovenia kept creating chances of their own. The fans’ eyes were mainly on Cristiano Ronaldo: every time the former world footballer touched the ball, the noise level in the stands rose. This was also the case when the centre-forward jumped through just under a cross in the 13th minute. While his colleagues swirled around him and looked for gaps, Ronaldo mostly held his position as a fixed point. Meanwhile, European Championship veteran Pepe held things together at the back, repeatedly getting in between energetically and daring to venture right up to the opponent’s goal.
The Slovenians initially struggled to get close to the penalty area. This also applied to Benjamin Šeško of RB Leipzig, the youngest in the underdog’s squad at 21. Coach Matjaž Kek had called for more support for the talented striker: “We have to help him.”
The favorites repeatedly tried to cross Ronaldo, who finally got his head on the ball after a good half hour. Slovakian goalkeeper Jan Oblak had no trouble, however. But then the world star celebrated his first free kick in a wide-legged pose – and fired a powerful shot just centimeters over the bar.
On the other side, Šeško made his first real appearance just before half-time, but his shot from 20 metres landed right in the arms of Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa. Both teams went into half-time with Portugal’s João Palhinha hitting the outside of the post.
Ronaldo’s team remained dominant and wide awake in the second half, but simply couldn’t find a gap. When the record European Championship goalscorer took another free kick, Oblak blocked the ball with both fists. The Atlético Madrid keeper and his teammates defended their penalty area with many legs. After an hour, Šeško escaped the experienced Pepe on a counterattack, but missed the goal.
Ronaldo breaks down in tears during the game
The game became more competitive and exciting with every minute – until Portugal were awarded a penalty in the 105th minute. Ronaldo stepped up and was stopped by Slovenia’s keeper Oblak. The previously unlucky superstar burst into tears during the game. Shortly afterwards, Slovenia were able to counterattack and Benjamin Šeško had the winning goal on his feet in front of goal – but was stopped by Portugal’s strong goalkeeper Costa.
Ronaldo then scored in the penalty shootout, along with the other Portuguese shooters Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva. The Slovenians failed in all three attempts against Costa, who became the hero of the evening in the penalty shootout. “These are the great moments in football. I am so happy that I was able to help my team,” said the goalkeeper after the game. “He saved us,” said Ronaldo. The 39-year-old said of his emotional outburst: “There are moments that you can’t explain, where passion just takes over.”
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In the quarter-finals, the Portuguese will face France in Hamburg next Friday.
Portugal is in the quarter-finals of the European Football Championship after a win against Slovenia. Slovenia gave the favourites plenty of trouble and earned a fair draw over 120 minutes. The 3-0 win was only decided in the penalty shootout.
Portugal had much more of the game, but Slovenia kept creating chances of their own. The fans’ eyes were mainly on Cristiano Ronaldo: every time the former world footballer touched the ball, the noise level in the stands rose. This was also the case when the centre-forward jumped through just under a cross in the 13th minute. While his colleagues swirled around him and looked for gaps, Ronaldo mostly held his position as a fixed point. Meanwhile, European Championship veteran Pepe held things together at the back, repeatedly getting in between energetically and daring to venture right up to the opponent’s goal.
