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Summary:
- Monday’s Portugal VS Slovenia match sent Ronaldo’s team into the quarter-finals where they will meet France.
- It took a dramatic penalty shootout at the end of extra time for Portugal to defeat Slovenia (3-0 on pens).
- Ronaldo missed a penalty in the 105th minute but scored one of three penalties that brought victory.
Portugal is getting ready to play a quarter-final against France at Euro 2024 after it ended Monday’s match against Slovenia with a dramatic 3-0 penalty shootout win.
While Cristiano Ronaldo teared up after he missed a spot-kick (pictured) in extra-time (105’) because of Jan Oblak’s brilliant save, the 39-year-old took revenge when he converted his effort in the shootout at the end of extra-time.
Diogo Costa made three miraculous saves (pictured) that turned him into the hero of the evening.
“Sadness at the Start Is Joy at the End.”
At the end of the goalless draw, Ronaldo managed to convert his team’s first effort in the shootout.
He was joined by Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes who also converted their winning kicks. In the meanwhile, goalkeeper Diogo Costa made some incredible saves from Josip Ilicic, Jure Balkovec, and Benjamin Verbic.
Ronaldo commented at the end of the match saying
Sadness at the start is joy at the end. That’s what football is. Moments, inexplicable moments.
The Al Nassar forward spoke about his missed penalty that was supposed to have his team a lead, saying he needs to watch it to see if he shot “well or badly”, adding that he hasn’t missed a penalty kick all year.
He added Portugal “deserved” the win since they had “more authority”, saying their opponents spent almost the entire game on the defense.
The player, who predictably dominated the encounter, seemed to be emotionally charged from the start.
All his efforts on goal over the course of the 120 minutes, which included four unsuccessful free-kicks, triggered lots of reactions from him, anger and devastation included.
Portugal was always on top of it, pressing hard but for one reason or another, didn’t score.
Costa also commented on his performance, calling it “probably the best game” of his life.
He explained that while he was focused on doing what he had to do, he also used his “gut feeling”, adding the match was “very tough” and drenched in “tremendous emotion”.
