At the start of the match, nobody could have guessed what would happen in the next three hours. The images and scenes that this match would provide will be talked about for a long time to come. A favorite who struggled in vain against the underdog and found himself in increasing trouble. A superstar on a desperate mission to score his first goal at the European Championships, who finally burst into tears because of many missed opportunities, including a penalty in extra time.
Slovenia gave everything for 120 minutes, led by a great goalkeeper, only to be defeated dramatically by the opposing goalkeeper Diogo Costa, who was even better than his counterpart Oblak on this wild evening of football and nullified the three penalties awarded by the Slovenians by Josip Ilicic, Jure Balkovec and Benjamin Verbic. Slovenia, who have not lost any of their four matches in regular time at this European Championship, had to go home.
IMAGO/SNA/Alexey Filippov The picture of the evening: An exasperated Cristiano Ronaldo, who burst into tears in despair over his missed penalty
As a reward for this nerve-racking round of 16 match, the Portuguese will face France in the quarter-finals on Friday (9 p.m.) in Hamburg, having only won 1-0 against Belgium thanks to an own goal.
Portugal pushes for 1-0
Portugal had started the round of 16 match against outsiders Slovenia in Frankfurt as big favorites. The 39-year-old Ronaldo and Co. were warned, however, by a 2-0 defeat in a friendly match in Ljubljana in March of this year. The first quarter of an hour, however, went as expected. Portugal had possession of the ball 77 percent of the time and was looking for an early lead.
UEFA EURO 2024
Round of 16
Ronaldo sailed past a cross, but Rafael Leao was unable to finish (4th minute). After the following corner, Ruben Dias shot wide (5th minute). The Slovenians held out with their usual 4-4-2 system and tried to launch attacks when they had the ball. However, they only managed to get to around 30 metres from the opponent’s goal.
Ronaldo struggles, Slovenia slowly wakes up
The match did not change its character as the game went on. Portugal tried to create chances, Slovenia defended consistently. A free kick from Ronaldo went over the bar at top speed in the 34th minute. The superstar was generally struggling with his ability to convert his chances.
Portugal – Slovenia: Ronaldo shoots just over the goal (34.)
Ronaldo is determined to score his first goal at this European Championship and sends the ball just over the bar.
It was clear that he would have loved to score the 1-0, his first goal at this European Championship, and to reclaim Luka Modric’s record as the oldest goalscorer at a European Championship. Slowly, however, Slovenia woke up and became more confident in attack.
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Just before half-time, coach Matjaz Kek’s team had their strongest phase so far, but the last dangerous pass in front of the goal was not successful. Portugal, for their part, had become too sluggish and uncreative in their offensive efforts. As a result, the favorites did not have a single top chance at half-time.
Ronaldo struggles in vain
After the break, Portugal got off to a lightning start and Joao Cancelo stormed down the right towards Slovenia’s goalkeeper Oblak. His cross pass was blocked, but Bernardo Silva put the rebound wide of the goal (47′). In the 55th minute, Ronaldo followed up with a direct free kick. The ball, which was kicked with full force, was saved by Oblak.
Portugal – Slovenia: Oblak parries Ronaldo’s shot (55.)
Ronaldo put all his skill and all his will into the shot – in vain.
Ronaldo put all his skill and determination into the shot, but the goal he was hoping for still eluded him. When the Portuguese pressed, Slovenia occasionally had room to counterattack. In the 62nd minute, former Salzburg player Benjamin Sesko sprinted towards Diogo Costa’s goal, but was pushed off slightly by Pepe, who was 20 years older, and his shot went wide with his left foot.
Portugal finds no solution for 90 minutes
70 minutes had been played and the scoreboard was still double zero in this last European Championship match in Frankfurt. This pleased the Slovenian fans, while those of Portugal were beginning to wonder how long this situation would last. In any case, Slovenia brought on Sturm Graz mainstay Jon Gorenc Stankovic in the 74th minute to further stabilize the team.
Portugal – Slovenia: Huge chance for Ronaldo (89th)
Ronaldo almost managed to decide the game within regular time, but Oblak was there once again.
Austria’s southern neighbor continued to fight selflessly in defense, always being there when one of the agile and quick Portuguese players tried to sprint or make a hook. As the game was heading for a 0-0 draw in regular time, Ronaldo stormed towards Oblak once again. The Atletico Madrid goalkeeper was able to pin the powerful shot with his knees. Extra time was a reality after 90 plus four minutes.
Oblak makes Ronaldo cry
In extra time, Slovenia kept the game open against the Portuguese, who were playing with too little pace. In the 105th minute, however, the tide seemed to turn. Diogo Jota ran at full speed into Vanja Drkusic, who left his leg out. Referee Daniele Orsato immediately pointed to the penalty spot, and Ronaldo took up a position with his legs apart in his usual manner.
Portugal – Slovenia: Oblak saves Ronaldo’s penalty (105th)
A scene for football eternity: Ronaldo fails with his penalty against Oblak and breaks down in tears.
But with a world-class save, Oblak dived into the right corner, namely the left corner, and turned Ronaldo’s well-taken penalty onto the post. The superstar couldn’t believe it and let his emotions run free. Ronaldo cried bitterly during the break in extra time, but then pulled himself together and went back on the hunt for goals in the last 15 minutes of the game.
Sesko misses match point
The excitement surrounding the penalty also upset Slovenia’s coach Kek and his criticism of the decision earned him a red card from Orsato during the break.
Portugal – Slovenia: Huge chance for Slovenia (115.)
Former Salzburg player Benjamin Sesko missed the match point for Slovenia.
But even without a coach, Slovenia did not give an inch in the duel with their more highly rated opponent. On the contrary: In the 115th minute, Sesko even missed a huge chance to make it 1-0 after a solo effort when he tried to finish too early and was stopped by Costa.
Costa destroys Slovenia’s dreams
It happened as it seemed to have to happen that evening: a penalty shootout was to decide the winner. The ultimate showdown was unusual, but somehow fitting in with the rest of the game.
Penalty shootout in full length
The penalty shootout at the end of the game was, like the match before it, a rollercoaster of emotions.
In a real drama, Slovenia missed the first three penalties, all of which were saved by the outstanding Porto goalkeeper Costa. Ronaldo, Fernandes and Silva, however, beat Oblak and booked Portugal’s duel with France next Friday (9 p.m.) in Hamburg.
Voices about the game:
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal captain): “That rarely happened to me, so I was incredibly sad and had to cry. But now I’m very happy. There are moments that you can’t explain, when passion just takes over. He (Costa, note) saved us. Sadness at the beginning is joy at the end. Oblak saved him well. I didn’t miss once all year and when I needed it most, Oblak saved him.”
Diogo Costa (Portugal goalkeeper and “Player of the Match”): “These are the great moments in football. I am so happy that I was able to help my team. That was probably the best game of my life. I focused on what I had to do. I trusted my gut feeling.”
Jon Gorenc Stankovic (Slovenia player): “In the end we are very disappointed. Today we had a lot more in it, if I remember the last two chances. But that’s football. Now we move on, we’re going home, but we still have to be proud. We played against really good teams and didn’t actually lose a game.”
UEFA Euro 2024, Round of 16
Montag:
Portugal – Slowenien 0:0 nV 3:0 nE
Frankfurt, 47,000, SR Orsato (ITA)
Penalties shoot:
0:0 – Ilicic fails against Diogo Costa
1:0 – Ronaldo scores
1:0 – Balkovec fails against Diogo Costa
2:0 – Fernandes scores
2:0 – Verbic fails against Diogo Costa
3:0 – B. Silva scores
Portugal: Costa – Cancelo (117./Semedo), Pepe (117./Neves), Dias, Mendes – Vitinha (65./Jota), Palhinha, Fernandes – B. Silva, Ronaldo, Leao (76./Conceicao)
Slovenia: Oblak – Karnicnik, Drkusic, Bijol, Balkovec – Stojanovic (86th/Verbic), Gnezda Cerin, Elsnik (106th/Ilicic), Mlakar (74th/Gorenc Stankovic) – Sporar (74th/Celar), Sesko
Gelbe Karten: Keine bzw. Drkusic, Karnicnik, Gorenc Stankovic, Bijol, Balkovec
Red card: Kek (Slovenia team manager)
Note: Ronaldo (Portugal) missed a penalty (105th)
