Watch Portugal vs Slovenia full match replay and highlights.
KICK-OFF at 19:00 (GMT) on 1st July 2024.
The referee for this match is D. Orsato
Game played at Frankfurt Arena
This is a match in Europe – UEFA Euro, 8Th Finals, Season 2024
Portugal Advances to Euro 2024 Quarter-Finals After Penalty Shootout Win Over Slovenia
Portugal secured their place in the UEFA Euro 2024 quarter-finals with a dramatic 3-0 penalty shootout victory over Slovenia, following a tense 0-0 draw. Despite the dismal draw, Slovenia’s historic achievement of reaching the knockout stages for the first time ever ensures their departure is marked with pride.
First Half: Portugal’s Struggle and Slovenia’s Resilience
Roberto Martínez’s Portugal faced a challenging start against Slovenia, a team that handed him his first defeat as Portugal manager back in March. Slovenia’s solid defensive setup frustrated Portugal’s attempts to break through. Rafael Leão and Cristiano Ronaldo had half chances but failed to capitalize on excellent crosses.
Ronaldo, eager to break his goal drought, saw multiple attempts go awry, including headers and free kicks that missed the mark. Slovenia, on the other hand, managed to test Diogo Costa with a shot from Benjamin Šeško. The best chance of the first half came just before the break when João Palhinha’s low drive brushed the post, but the half ended goalless.
Second Half: Missed Opportunities and Stalemate
The second half continued in a similar vein, with Portugal struggling to find a breakthrough. Ronaldo’s frustrations grew as he saw his efforts, including a powerful free kick, thwarted by Slovenian goalkeeper Jan Oblak.
As the match wore on, the excitement dwindled, and both sides seemed to prepare for extra time. Šeško missed a counter-attack opportunity, and Ronaldo’s best chance of the match was saved by Oblak. The game seemed destined for penalties when Vanja Drkušić’s foul on Diogo Jota gave Portugal a golden opportunity from the spot. However, Oblak’s sensational save from Ronaldo’s penalty kept Slovenia’s hopes alive.
Extra Time and Penalty Shootout: Portugal Prevails
In extra time, both teams had chances, but none more crucial than Pepe’s stumble that almost allowed Šeško a famous winner, only for Diogo Costa to make a vital save. The penalty shootout saw Slovenia miss all three of their attempts, while Portugal converted all of theirs, including Bernardo Silva’s decisive kick.
Conclusion: Portugal Moves On, Slovenia Celebrates Historic Achievement
Portugal’s victory sets up a blockbuster quarter-final clash against France, as they aim to go further than their exit at the hands of Martínez’s Belgium three years ago. For Slovenia, despite the defeat, their unprecedented success in reaching the knockout stages will be celebrated with pride in Ljubljana.
