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(ABC – Australia) The Portugal goalkeeper excelled in a penalty shootout, Cristiano Ronaldo’s tears turned to joy in victory, while Belgium’s golden generation was left heartbroken after losing to France and an England star was under investigation.
Here are five highlights from the Euro 2024 action on Tuesday morning.
Cristiano Ronaldo in tears as European Cup goal drought continues
Portugal may have reached the quarter-finals of the European Championship but, incredibly, its talisman Cristiano Ronaldo is still seeking his first goal of the tournament.
Despite the team’s success, Ronaldo has been extremely frustrated throughout the Euros and has not scored in a major tournament since finding the net against Ghana in the 2022 FIFA World Cup group stage.
The 39-year-old once again had a great chance but he met his match in Slovenia goalkeeper Jan Oblak.
Oblak and Ronaldo are very familiar with each other, with the Portuguese star having previously served as goalkeeper for Real Madrid’s city rivals Atletico Madrid while at Real Madrid.
During his peak years at Real Madrid, Ronaldo scored against Oblak time and time again, and you might think he could have easily finished the game, but that was not the case.
Ronaldo had a chance to win the game in regular time after a powerful free-kick was blocked by Oblak, but his left-foot shot was again blocked.
After neither side was able to score in the first 90 minutes, Ronaldo seemed destined to end his goal drought as he stepped onto the penalty spot after Diogo Jota won a penalty for Portugal in the first half of extra time.
Ronaldo’s penalty wasn’t bad, but Oblak’s save was even better, as he dived wide to his left to deny the Slovenian’s shot. What happened next was amazing.
Minutes later, as the teams huddled together ahead of the second period of extra time, a distraught Ronaldo began howling loudly on the pitch as his teammates surrounded him.
Diogo Dalot hugged his captain as he cried and gave him a kiss on the cheek before walking back onto the pitch in what will undoubtedly become one of the most iconic images of the tournament.
Although Ronaldo failed to score his 131st international goal, he eventually got his revenge against Oblak by taking Portugal’s first penalty of the shootout and firing the ball into the left corner past the Slovenian goalkeeper.
The Portugal captain immediately raised his hands to apologise to the fans and looked relieved minutes later when Bernardo Silva converted a penalty to send Portugal into the quarter-finals.
“I was very sad before, but now I’m very happy. That’s what football gives you,” Ronaldo said in a translated comment in his post-match interview. “You can’t explain it.”
2. Portugal’s best penalty shootout performance
Cristiano Ronaldo may have grabbed the headlines for Portugal’s victory on penalties, but the real hero of the match was his team-mate Diogo Costa’s performance in front of the post.
The Portuguese goalkeeper performed amazingly in the penalty shootout, saving three consecutive penalties to help Slovenia keep a clean sheet. He was deservedly named the best player of the match.
Costa became the first goalkeeper to save three penalties at the European Cup, and his historic performance averted a major embarrassment from the Portuguese perspective.
The penalty shootout wasn’t the only stage of the tournament where Costa showed heroics, as Portugal were all but eliminated before the shootout.
With extra time drawing to a close, Portugal’s heart was in their throats as 41-year-old defender Pepe tiredly dribbled the ball, causing it to slip out of his hands near half court and be snatched away by Slovenia’s star striker Benjamin Shesko.
Šeško, 21, is widely regarded as one of the best young strikers in football, with Manchester United, among others, keen on him, and he looks certain to lead Slovenia through to the next round.
Seshko faced Costa one-on-one and tried to shoot the ball into the bottom right corner of the goal, but was blocked by Costa’s outstretched foot. The Portuguese team somehow still maintained the advantage.
“This was probably the best match of my life,” Costa said in translated comments.
“I tried to focus as much as I could. I took a few deep breaths and just went with the flow.
“We all know Chris is the hardest worker. I understand how frustrated he is. For me, it’s an honor to play on the same team.”
AP/ABC
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