Portugal 0-0 Slovenia (aet, 3-0 pens): Diogo Costa heroics take Portugal to quarters

Portugal beat Slovenia on penalties in the UEFA EURO 2024 round of 16 tie in Frankfurt and will play France in the last eight. Goalkeeper Diogo Costa was the Portuguese hero, saving all three spot kicks he faced.

Match in brief: Diogo Costa the difference

Jan Oblak saves Cristiano Ronaldo's penaltyGetty Images

Portugal started off on the front foot with two early chances, Rafael Leão and Rúben Dias going close. Roberto Martínez's men had another opening but Cristiano Ronaldo couldn't make contact with Bernardo Silva's cross.

Slovenia grew into the game, gaining a foothold, but still it was the Seleção creating more danger. Jan Oblak blocked a Ronaldo header, then moments later the Portugal captain was centimetres away from a breakthrough, his free-kick flying just over.

Slovenia's first shot in anger came from Benjamin Šeško trying his luck from distance, while at the other end João Palhinha hit the post with a low effort as half-time approached.

The second half got under way with a great run by João Cancelo, only for Bernardo Silva to fire wide from a promising position. Oblak again denied Ronaldo by repelling the 39-year-old's powerful free-kick.

Šeško then produced Slovenia's best chance yet, outpacing Pepe but being unable to make a good connection with the ball when one-on-one with Diogo Costa. Extra time beckoned; Ronaldo had the opportunity to prevent it but Oblak rescued his team once more.

The game remained finely poised in the additional 30 minutes. Diogo Jota went on a fine solo run that ended in a penalty award to Portugal. Oblak was the hero, however, turning Ronaldo's effort onto the post. Then Šeško might have won it for Matjaž Kek's still-unbeaten side, but all alone against Diogo Costa he had his shot stopped.

So it fell to penalties. Diogo Costa saved the first three Slovenia attempts. Ronaldo, Bruno Fernando and Bernardo Silva scored, and Portugal went to the quarter-finals.

Vivo Player of the Match: Diogo Costa (Portugal)

Diogo Costa produced the outstanding moments. Apart from making three consecutive penalty saves in the shoot-out, he produced a great 1v1 save in extra time against Šeško. This shows how important it was for him to be fully concentrated throughout the game, the mark of a top goalkeeper playing in big games.
UEFA Technical Observer panel

Carlos Machado, Portugal reporter

Portugal were the better side, but it wasn't enough to break Slovenia's resilience. They had many chances, went close to beating Oblak various times, but somehow the ball wouldn't go in. As the match wore on, Portugal became more exposed as a team. Then in penalties anything could have happened.

Grega Sever, Slovenia reporter

Again, a very disciplined and focused showing from Slovenia, which reduced Portugal's threat mainly to free-kicks. Oblak was once again majestic in goal, even saving Ronaldo's penalty. It was a great result to make it to penalties, despite the heartache of losing.

Reaction

Diogo Costa, Player of the Match and Portugal goalkeeper: "When I made the save from Šeško in extra time, I thought I had to do it. I read his body language and was able to help the team. This is probably the best game of my life. I focused on doing what I had to do. I went with my gut feeling. Of course we had analysed the penalty takers, but players change and they change how they shoot. I am very happy and very excited to have helped the team."

Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal captain: "It was hard, but this is football. They defended well, they are very strong physically, the pitch was also helping them, but Portugal won because we played better, had better chances and we deserved to be in the last eight."

Matjaž Kek, Slovenia coach: "When you lose a game, you don't celebrate. We will taste the bitterness, but with sweetness on the other hand. I hope this tournament is a starting point for the future of Slovenian football. I am sorry for the fans, who had such energy. Unfortunately we were unable to win, but Portugal deserved it. Of course, the players are sad now. These players have created a national team phenomenon. They have proved what it means to play for Slovenia."

Jaka Bijol, Slovenia defender: "I am so proud of the whole team. We all gave it 100% from start to finish. We took the game to penalties, and then we were unlucky, having missed three. We really have to be proud. Of course we wanted to win, but I am sure we will be back. I think we need to be satisfied with the tournament. We have proved we can compete with the best of them. You haven't seen the last of us."

Key stats

Diogo Costa denies Šeško Getty Images

• Portugal’s Diogo Costa became the first goalkeeper to save three penalties in a UEFA European Championship penalty shoot-out. He is the first goalkeeper not to concede in a EURO shoot-out.
• Aged 39 years and 147 days, Cristiano Ronaldo became the oldest player to score a penalty in a EURO shoot-out.
• Cristiano Ronaldo is the only player with more than ten appearances in EURO knockout round matches – this was his 12th. The player in second place is former Italy defender Leonardo Bonucci (nine).
• Portugal have reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA European Championship for a seventh time, more than any other side.
• Both of Portugal’s previous EURO round of 16 ties had finished 1-0: winning (aet) vs Croatia (EURO 2016) and losing vs Belgium (EURO 2020).
• Portugal had never before failed to score in two successive EURO matches.
• Five of Portugal's last seven EURO knockout games have required extra time.
• The only previous international between these teams took place in March when Slovenia won 2-0 in a friendly in Ljubljana.
• This was Slovenia's first ever competitive penalty shoot-out.
• Slovenia reached the EURO knockout rounds for the first time having exited in the group stage on their previous EURO appearance in 2000.
• Slovenia have drawn their last five EURO matches.
• Slovenia are unbeaten in their last ten international fixtures (W4 D6).
• Slovenia have lost only two of their last 18 competitive games (W8 D8).
• Slovenia have conceded more than one goal in only one of their last ten internationals.

Line-ups

Portugal: Diogo Costa; João Cancelo (Nélson Semedo 118), Rúben Dias, Pepe (Rúben Neves 118), Nuno Mendes; Bruno Fernandes, João Palhinha, Vitinha (Diogo Jota 65); Bernardo Silva, Ronaldo, Rafael Leão (Francisco Conceição 76)

Slovenia: Oblak; Karničnik, Drkušić, Bijol, Balkovec; Stojanović (Verbič 86), Gnezda Čerin, Elšnik (Iličić 116), Mlakar (G Stanković 75); Šporar (Celar 75), Šeško