The Euro 2024 1/8 finals are in full swing, with 6 teams already advancing to the top 8, with hosts Germany, Spain, England and Switzerland already taking the lead.
World No. 2 France eliminated world No. 3 Belgium 1-0, Belgium was out, Portugal 3-0 Slovenia, the process was tortuous, Ronaldo's high-quality free kick was slightly higher, and he cried when he missed the point.
In the penalty shoot-out, Costa made three saves and Portugal managed to advance and will face France.
France 1-0 Belgium: A subtle victory in a super duel
The match between France and Belgium has been hailed as the "top two matchup in Europe", as France is ranked second in the world with a team worth 1.23 billion euros, while Belgium is ranked third with a total value of 585 million euros.
Both teams boast a plethora of top stars, and every detail of the game tugs at the heartstrings of fans.
After the start of the game, the two sides quickly got into the groove, the pace of attack and defense was extremely fast, and the French team continued to threaten the Belgian goal with the individual ability of stars such as Mbappe and Griezmann.
Belgium's defense was equally good, and the deployment of midfield giants such as Kevin De Bruyne and Witsel repeatedly frustrated the French team's attack.
In the first half of the game, the two teams on the green field launched a fierce competition, the French team and the Belgian team went back and forth, and the offensive was like a tide.
The defence was also rock solid, with a number of brilliant saves from both teams' goalkeepers keeping the score at 0-0 and fans holding their breath in anticipation of the moment of the goal.
As the halftime whistle sounded, the players of the two teams adjusted slightly, and the fire was rekindled in the second half, and the French team obviously adjusted its tactics, strengthened the pressing and tacit cooperation of the attack in the front, intending to tear apart the Belgian team's defense.
On the other hand, Belgium, as the game deepened, the players' physical fitness began to gradually show fatigue, and the pace in defense was slightly heavy, giving the French team an opportunity.
The game came to an end, and in the 85th minute, the situation on the field changed abruptly.
France seized a valuable counter-attacking opportunity, and substitute Muani came off the bench like a tiger descending from the mountain, showing a keen sense of smell and excellent running ability from the moment he came on.
He quickly inserted into the opposition's hinterland, received a precise pass from his team-mate, and made a clever pass to find his team-mate.
The god of fate seemed to be on the side of the French team, the Belgian defender cleared in a panic, but accidentally blocked the ball into his own goal, this sudden own goal instantly ignited the passion of the whole game, and the French team led 1-0!
The goal boosted the morale of the French team, while Belgium fell into despair.
Although they then fought back, time was running out, and in the end, France eliminated Belgium 1-0 and successfully advanced to the quarter-finals.
Portugal 3-0 Slovenia: Thrilling advance in penalty shootout
The other 1/8 final is also going on intensely, and Portugal's match against Slovenia is also full of suspense.
Portugal are ranked sixth in the world and worth more than €1 billion, making them one of the favourites to win the tournament.
Slovenia reached the main stage of the European Championship for the second time, drawing all three of their group games and advancing to the round of 16 by finishing third in their best four groups.
Portugal quickly took the initiative on the field.
Stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Jota continued to threaten up front, but Slovenia's defence was tenacious, using their physicality and excellent tactical execution to limit Portugal's attack.
The first half ended in a 0-0 draw.
As soon as the whistle blew in the second half, Portugal rushed to the Slovenian half, eager to break the deadlock, and Cristiano Ronaldo, as the soul of the team, led the way, frequently looking for opportunities at the edge of the opposition penalty area.
The Slovenian defence is like a solid wall, and the players work together well and stand in close positions, making every attack of the Portuguese team look extremely difficult.
Cristiano Ronaldo has shown his all-round ability as a world-class star, sometimes breaking through with the ball and sometimes passing the ball with precision in an attempt to tear apart the opposition's defence.
Time passed quietly in a tense and fierce confrontation, and every offensive failure made the fans' hearts tighten tighter.
It wasn't until the end of regulation time that there was a sudden turnaround on the pitch when Ronaldo received a subtle through ball from a team-mate on a counter-attack.
In the face of an empty goal, he took a decisive step, but unfortunately, the ball grazed the post and flew off the bottom line, missing what could have been the decisive chance of the game.
After extra-time, the two sides were unable to break the deadlock, and it was not until the penalty shoot-out that Portugal showed their true quality.
Costa excelled as a goalkeeper, saving three penalties from Slovenia in a row, while Portugal's players were solid enough to take all of them.
In the end, Portugal eliminated Slovenia with a score of 3-0 to advance to the quarterfinals.
Netherlands vs Romania: The upcoming strong dialogue
In the matches that have already ended, we have seen strong progress from France and Portugal.
In the match between the Netherlands and Romania, although the Dutch team experienced some twists and turns, it still showed strong competitiveness with its profound heritage and the tenacity of the players.
The whole team is worth up to 815 million euros, which is not only a symbol of wealth, but also an intuitive embodiment of strength and potential, so that opponents dare not underestimate it.
In contrast, the Romanian team is like a breath of fresh air in football, low-key and resilient.
Although they are only ranked 47th in the world, they have interpreted the wise saying "football is round" with practical actions.
In the group stage, Romania topped the group with one win, one draw and one defeat, and advanced to the round of 16 as group winners, a feat that undoubtedly caught the eyes of the world.
Their performance is not only eye-catching, but also shows the spirit of unity and courage of the team.
Judging from the historical account books, the Netherlands undoubtedly have a heavy chance of winning against Romania.
In the past eight meetings, the Dutch team has dominated their opponents with an overwhelming record of 6 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss, which is not only a string of numbers, but also a direct reflection of the strength and experience of the Dutch team.
As fans often say, football is round, the field is unpredictable, and any prediction can be broken by a sudden and wonderful performance.
Although the Romanian team is slightly inferior in terms of historical record, they are never lacking in fighting spirit and potential.
Each team hides an unknown force that could be ignited at some point and burst with amazing energy that can change the course of the game.
For the Dutch team, a strong record in the past can boost morale, but it must not be a reason to underestimate the opposition.
In the face of the upcoming matchup, the Dutch team must maintain a high level of vigilance and concentration, treat every game as a new challenge, and go all out to win.
Only in this way can we ensure that we can hold our ground in the fierce confrontation, play at our best, and turn the advantage on paper into tangible victory.
epilogue
As Euro 2024 progresses, teams are fighting for glory and dreams.
The promotion of strong teams such as France and Portugal has shown us the charm and strength of European football, and the next games will be even more exciting.
Whether it's a clash between the Netherlands and Romania or a fierce battle between other teams, it will make for an unforgettable experience for fans.
Let's look forward to the next competition!