The Seleçao goalkeeper was unstoppable in stopping three penalty kicks as his team eliminated Slovenia in the last 16 of the Euro on Monday.
Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa said he had the best game of his life against Slovenia on Monday, stopping three penalties to send his team into the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 alongside France.
After a goalless draw for 120 minutes in the last-16 encounter in Frankfurt, the Porto goalkeeper saved three Slovenian penalties to earn his team a 3-0 victory in the penalty shootout.
The 24-year-old also made a crucial one-on-one save with his foot in the second period of extra time when Slovenia’s Benjamin Sesko threw himself on his goal following a defensive error.
“The best match of my life”
“I think it’s probably the best game of my life, maybe the game in which I was most useful”Costa told reporters. “Players change their minds and change the way they shoot. I had to follow my instincts, that’s what I felt. I’m very, very happy that I was able to help the team.”.
Costa was delighted that Ronaldo recovered and scored after his 105th-minute penalty miss left the superstar in tears.
“We all felt that we had to keep believing – me and Cristiano, everyone makes mistakes, but the most important thing is how we react after those mistakes”Costa added. “We have to believe in ourselves and that’s what we did.”
Also read: Euro 2024: Cristiano Ronaldo’s tears after his missed penalty
Selecao coach Roberto Martinez said Ronaldo’s emotions showed how much he still cared about staying in contention at his sixth European Championship, despite a long and illustrious career.
SEE ALSO – Roberto Martinez after Portugal-Slovenia: “We are all proud of our captain Cristiano Ronaldo»
”
data-script=”
>
“The emotions are incredible for someone who has done so much, that’s why I thank him… Only penalty takers can miss a penalty”Martinez said. “I knew he had to be the first shooter (in the penalty shootout) and show us the way to victory. Everyone is very proud of our captain. He teaches us all a lesson, to be very demanding and never give up.”
Midfielder Palhinha himself greeted “collective effort and unity” you Portugal “until the end”After “a lot of suffering”as well as Cristiano Ronaldo’s reaction to his first missed penalty.
“The team is always with him. He has already scored so many penalties, and he has achieved so much in football… He had the courage to take the ball and score during the session.” he estimated.
Regarding the quarter-final against France, the Portuguese player anticipates “a different match” against “a great team that doesn’t even need an introduction”and one «50/50» regarding his team’s chances of reaching the semi-finals.
