Source: Football Tribe
At 3 a.m. Beijing time on July 2, a 1/8 final of the 2024 European Championship in Germany will be played at the Frankfurt Arena, with Portugal facing Slovenia. In normal time, Cristiano Ronaldo took a number of free-kicks but missed the crosshairs, and Palhinha hit the neutral post. At the end of 90 minutes, the two teams were tied 0-0 and the game went to extra time. In extra-time, Jota made a penalty, but Ronaldo's penalty was saved by Oblak, and Ronaldo burst into tears after missing the penalty. At the end of extra time, the score of the two sides was still 0-0, and the game went to a penalty shootout. In the penalty shootout, Cristiano Ronaldo scored a penalty, and Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa saved three penalties in a row, and Portugal eliminated Slovenia 3-0 in the penalty shootout to advance to the quarterfinals of the European Championship and will face France in the quarterfinals.
Portugal, ranked 6th in the world, topped their group stage with 2 wins and 1 defeat. Slovenia drew three times in a row in the group stage and qualified for the round of 16 with one of the best group finishes. The two teams played a warm-up match in March, which resulted in a 2-0 victory for Slovenia, handing Martinez his first defeat in charge of the Grapes. In this game, the 39-year-old Ronaldo started the game.
In the 4th minute, B Fei crossed from the right side of the front, Ronaldo jumped high and didn't grab the header, and the Slovenian defender cleared the ball out of the bottom line. In the 8th minute, Leao took the ball in front of the penalty area, and Ronaldo stopped the ball and fell in the penalty area. Fernandes then found Cristiano Ronaldo in a cross from the right side of the field, who again failed to complete the shot. In the 31st minute, Cancelo dribbled the ball on the right side of the front, stumbled and passed people to the bottom line to pick up a pass, Ronaldo's header in the middle did not have the power, and the ball was obtained by goalkeeper Oblak.
In the 33rd minute, Leao ran wildly with the ball and was tackled in front of the penalty area by Del Kucic after successive passes, who received a yellow card and Portugal won a free kick in front of the penalty area. Cristiano Ronaldo took the free-kick and his powerful volley went over the wall and just over the crossbar. In the 36th minute, Vitinha picked up a pass in the front, and Ronaldo jumped up in the middle and missed the ball. In the 38th minute, Leao dribbled on the left side of the field to cause the opponent's handball, and the Portuguese team won a free kick outside the penalty area.
In the 43rd minute, the Slovenian team counterattacked, Sesko took the ball to the penalty area and shot a long shot, the ball was relatively positive, and was saved by goalkeeper Costa. In the 45+2nd minute, Leao passed on the left side as if no one was in a no-man's land, passed two defenders in a row and then reversed the triangle pass, and Palinha in the middle hit the outside of the post and bounced out of bounds. At the end of the first half, the two teams were temporarily tied 0-0.
In the second half, the Portuguese team still took the initiative to suppress the opponent, and the Slovenian team only relied on sporadic opportunities to counterattack. In the 55th minute, Cancelo was knocked down in front of the opponent's penalty area, and Portugal won a free kick directly in front of the goal. For a period of time after that, the Portuguese team suppressed the opponent's wild attack, and the Slovenian players frequently blocked with their bodies.
In the 62nd minute, the Slovenian team counterattacked, Sesko advanced with the ball, entered the penalty area under the pull of Pepe, and fired a low left-footed shot into the far corner. In the 65th minute, Jota came off the bench to replace Vitinha. In the 71st minute, Portugal once again won a free kick in front of the penalty area, and Ronaldo hit the penalty high again. In the 76th minute, Conceição replaced Leao. In the 81st minute, B Fei was stepped on by his opponent and fell to the ground in pain. In the 89th minute, Jota advanced with the ball and sent a through ball in front, and Ronaldo shot from a tight angle on the left side of the penalty area and hit the ball into Oblak's arms.
At the end of 90 minutes, the two sides were tied 0-0 and the game went to extra time. In the 95th minute, substitute Welbic broke the ball in front of the penalty area and pushed it with his right foot, but the ball was blocked by Dias. In the 103rd minute, Jota advanced with the ball, was tripped after passing into the penalty area, and the referee hesitated before awarding a penalty. The penalty was taken by Cristiano Ronaldo, who fired a half-high shot from the right side of the goal with his right foot, and Oblak flew to save the ball! At the end of the first half of extra time, the score was still 0-0, the 39-year-old Ronaldo was crying on the sidelines, and the younger brother next to him stepped forward to comfort the captain.
In the second half of extra time, Slovenia replaced veteran Ilicic. In the 108th minute, a free kick from the left side of the Portuguese front field was hoisted into the penalty area, Palhinha shook his head and hit the goal, and Oblak lifted the ball over the crossbar with one hand. A corner kick from Portugal followed, and Ronaldo knocked down Oblak as he fought for the top. In the 115th minute, the Slovenian team cleared the ball at the back, Pepe was cut off after taking the ball in the midfield, and Sesko got a one-on-one chance, but the latter's push was blocked by Costa with his foot. At the end of extra time, the score of the two sides was 0-0, and the first penalty shootout of this European Championship arrived.
In the first round, Slovenia's Ilicic's shot was saved by Costa, Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo hit the bottom left corner of the goal, Oblak judged correctly but did not save, Portugal 1-0 Slovenia. After scoring the penalty, Ronaldo made an apologetic gesture to the fans.
In the second round, Slovenia's Barkovic's penalty was saved by Costa again, and Portugal's B Fee easily scored the penalty, and Portugal 2-0 Slovenia.
In the third round, Slovenia's Welbic penalty was saved by Costa, who saved three penalties in a row, and Portugal's B seat took the penalty to give Portugal 3-0 Slovenia.
In the end, Portugal defeated Slovenia 3-0 on penalties to advance to the round of 16.