Close, but still:

Portugal vs Slovenia – LIVE from 9pm

Pure relief for the Portuguese after their late finalization to reach the European Championship quarter-finals

(Bild: Associated Press)

The 2016 European champions remain in the running for the 2024 European Championship title - with their first ever (!) victory over Slovenia, Portugal have advanced to the quarter-finals of this year's finals! Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. had to take the detour via a penalty shoot-out and endure a tearful drama, but in the end the Iberians were able to celebrate their success, however trembling it may have been ...

Curious, but true: although Slovenia has existed as an independent state for over 30 years, there had only been one duel between Austria's southern neighbor and the Portuguese before tonight. Since the "Zmajceki" - the "Dragons" - had won 2:0 at home on 26 March, they went into the 6th round of 16 at Euro 2024 with an advantage, at least according to the statistics. But because statistics in themselves do not win games, there was no sign of these "advantages" in Frankfurt right from the start, the Iberians, driven by Cristiano Ronaldo, immediately showed which team is ranked 6th in the world rankings and which is ranked 57th ...

(Bild: Associated Press)

(Bild: Associated Press)

Slovenia poisonous, troublesome, strong in duels and disciplined
Portugal boss Roberto Martínez rotated eight new players into the starting eleven after the embarrassing 2-0 defeat to Georgia in the meaningless third match of preliminary round Group F - reverting to the formation used in the previous 3-0 win over Turkey and from a 3-5-2 to a hybrid of 4-4-2 and 4-4-3. Slovenia coach Matjaž Kek, who had used the same first eleven three times in the group stage, only rotated in one new man: yellow card suspended Erik Janža was replaced by Jure Balkovec. What Kek did not replace was the venomous, troublesome, strong tackling and disciplined approach he had always shown in the tournament so far.

Unsurprisingly, Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. were mostly on the ball and at times set up a power play around the Slovenian penalty area. However, despite having up to 70% possession and numerous crosses into the box, they were unable to take the lead, repeatedly lacking pace in their passing game and repeatedly missing the final pass and the final cross with a lack of accuracy: for example, a double chance in the 13th minute, when first Cristiano Ronaldo and then Bruno Fernandes failed to connect with an increasingly long cross from Bernardo Silva.

(Bild: AFP)

Zmajceki's offense hardly in evidence
"CR7" also peppered a free-kick from around 19 meters out just 15 centimeters over the crossbar in the 34th minute - the first time Slovenia goalkeeper Jan Oblak, who until then had hardly reached unhealthy blood pressure levels, "answered" an offensive move by the 2016 European champions with a pike save. If that had happened, it would probably have been his turn. And the "Zmajceki" offense? They only really made an appearance twice in the first half: After a quick switch, the ball came to Petar Stojanović via Šporar and he got the better of defensive Methuselah Pepe for once. He then tried to lay the ball back to Šporar in the six-yard box, but Nuno Mendes smelled a rat early on and saved from Šporar, who was ready to shoot (39').

Five minutes later, ex-Salzburg man Šeško also had a go, but his shot from 25 meters was easy prey for Diogo Costa (44'). The visitors went into the half-time break with a 20-metre shot from soon-to-be-Bayern (?) Joao Palhinha just wide of the right-hand post.

First excitement after the restart through João Cancelo
As in the afternoon game between France and Belgium, neither team came out of the dressing rooms with any changes to their personnel or tactics. There was hardly any change to the characteristics of the game either: Portugal played and the Slovenians defended with discipline and determination, just as their team boss Kek had already done in his playing days at GAK and SV Spittal, among others. Although João Cancelo's spectacular dribble down the right into the penalty area - which included a cucumber for Jaka Bijol! - provided the first excitement after the restart, Slovenia initially got into the game better.

(Bild: Associated Press)

At the back, they almost invariably managed to get a foot, a leg, a head or any other legal body part into shots, crosses or passes from the Portuguese. And just a few minutes after Cristiano Ronaldo's unmarked free-kick from around 20 meters (55th / Oblak saved), it could have suddenly been 1:0 for Slovenia: After losing the ball in their own penalty area, the "Zmajceki" switched quickly, Šeško beat Pepe 1-on-1 - but then pushed the ball past the right-hand post (61').

First extra time at Euro 2024
The Slovenian failed in this action, as did Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal with another free-kick from 25 meters (72nd/over) and, after Diogo Jota's preparatory work from a half-left position, with a shot from eight meters against goalkeeper Oblak (89th).The action then more or less breezed along for a long time - until Diogo Jota took heart in the 103rd minute, dived into the many-legged Slovenian defense at speed and was fouled by Vanja Drkušić.

After a short wait, referee Daniele Orsato pointed to the spot - and suddenly Portugal's lead and progression to the quarter-finals seemed to be just a matter of moments. But things turned out differently: superstar Cristiano Ronaldo missed - and had to be consoled by his teammates for several minutes afterwards (105'). The Slovenians then had the very last big chance from play, but Šeško suddenly ran at Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa after Pepe lost the ball, but failed in a one-on-one, meaning the game had to be decided by a penalty shoot-out.

Diogo Costa becomes a nightmare for Slovenia
As with the final Šeško chance from the spot, Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa turned into a nightmare for Slovenia - as the FC Porto goalkeeper saved all attempts from the suddenly toothless and harmless "Dragons". Neither Josip Iličić, Balkovec nor Benjamin Verbič were able to beat Diogo Costa, while Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva did their duty at the other end - and sent Portugal through to the quarter-finals.

The result:
Portugal - Slovenia 3:0 on penalties (0:0)
Frankfurt, 47,000 spectators, referee Orsato (ITA)

Penalty shoot-out:
0:0 - Ilicic fails to beat Diogo Costa
1:0 - Ronaldo scores
1:0 - Balkovec fails to beat Diogo Costa
2:0 - Fernandes scores
2:0 - Verbic fails to beat Diogo Costa
3:0 - B. Silva scores

Yellow cards: Drkusic, Karnicnik, Gorenc Stankovic, Bijol, Balkovec

Red card: Kek (Slovenia team manager)

Portugal: Costa - Cancelo (117th Semedo), Pepe (117th Neves), Dias, Mendes - Vitinha (65th Jota), Palhinha, Fernandes - B. Silva, Ronaldo, Leao (76th Conceicao)
Slovenia: Oblak - Karnicnik, Drkusic, Bijol, Balkovec - Stojanovic (86. Verbic), Gnezda Cerin, Elsnik (106. Ilicic), Mlakar (74. Gorenc Stankovic) - Sporar (74. Celar), Sesko