A crying Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal can continue to dream of a second European Championship title after 2016, despite the star missing a penalty. The favorite beat outsider Slovenia 3-0 on penalties in the round of 16. No goals were scored in 120 minutes.
The 39-year-old Portuguese captain, who failed to save a penalty in the 105th minute from Slovenia’s goalkeeper Jan Oblak and then shed tears on the field, will now challenge France with Kylian Mbappé in the quarter-finals on Friday (9 p.m.) in Hamburg.
Ronaldo is still waiting for his first tournament goal in regular time – but he showed the necessary nerves of steel in the penalty shootout on Monday evening in front of 46,576 spectators in the Arena Frankfurt. After he scored, he apologized to the fans with a gesture. Goalkeeper Diogo Costa became the match winner, saving three shots from the Slovenians. It was a relief – especially for Ronaldo, who had to be consoled by his teammates after his missed attempt from eleven meters at half-time in extra time.
His record at his sixth European Championship remains at 14 goals. Ronaldo could have won the match single-handedly. Shortly before the end of regular time, his shot from a free position was blocked by Oblak (89′). Nevertheless, coach Roberto Martinez’s team was spared an exit in the first knockout round like Italy and Belgium experienced.
Ronaldo as a fixed point in attack
All eyes on 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 just under a cross in the 13th minute. Is this the last major tournament appearance of the Saudi professional from Al-Nassr FC? While his colleagues swirled around him and looked for gaps, Ronaldo mostly held his position as a fixed point.
Meanwhile, European Championship veteran Pepe (41) held things together at the back, repeatedly intervened energetically and dared to venture as far as the opponent’s goal. The Slovenians initially struggled to get close to the penalty area. This also applied to Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig, the youngest in the outsider’s squad at 21. Coach Matjaz Kek had called for more support for the talented striker: “We have to help him.”
Missed two great chances: Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldodpa
For the first time since independence, the selection of the country with only two million inhabitants had advanced to the knockout phase of a European Championship finals. The 2-0 victory against Portugal in the friendly match in March had given the team additional courage before kick-off. However, the Portuguese allowed their opponents to run a lot with their clever distribution of space.
The favorites repeatedly tried to cross Ronaldo, who finally got his head on the ball after half an hour. 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.
Veteran in Portugal’s defense: PepeReuters
On the other side, Sesko made his first real appearance just before half-time, but his shot from 20 metres landed right in the arms of goalkeeper Diogo Costa. Both teams went into half-time with Portugal’s Joao Palhinha hitting the outside of the post.
Five days after the 2-0 defeat to Georgia in the last group match, Ronaldo’s team continued to be dominant and wide awake, 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, Sesko escaped veteran Pepe on a counterattack but missed the goal. So the game went to penalties, where there was a late happy ending for the Portuguese despite the Ronaldo drama.
