'Well done for not panicking'published at 22:21 British Summer Time 1 July
Portugal 0-0 Slovenia
Pat Nevin
Former Scotland winger on BBC Radio 5 Live
Well done referee for not panicking and giving a yellow card.
Cristiano Ronaldo was left in tears after his penalty was saved in extra time but Portugal still progressed to the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 following a dramatic shootout victory over Slovenia.
Portugal's superstar captain saw his penalty kept out by Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak and he was consoled by his team-mates, as fans chanted his name in the stands.
But he recovered to score his country's first penalty in the shootout - where goalkeeper Diogo Costa saved all three kicks he faced - before Manchester City's Bernardo Silva netted the winning kick.
Ronaldo was involved in the thick of it throughout the night as he searched for his first goal at Euro 2024.
Before his penalty was tipped on to the post, he wasted a golden opportunity in the final minute of normal time, drilling his shot straight at Oblak, having seen countless crosses fly over his head throughout 120 minutes of blockbuster action.
Eventually, Portugal's persistence paid off as Slovenia crumbled in the shootout and Costa's heroics ensured Ronaldo's Euro dream continues.
Portugal had dominated for long periods and could have led in the first half but Joao Palhinha struck the post.
Slovenia, who defended with grit and resilience, had chances of their own and will regret Benjamin Sesko failing to score when through one-on-one with Portugal goalkeeper Costa, who made a fine save with his left foot, in the final minutes of extra time.
Portugal now play France in the quarter-finals in Hamburg on Friday, while Slovenia leave the competition in the cruellest of manners.
As ever, Ronaldo stole the limelight in a memorable match, but his wait for a first goal here in Germany continues.
It was not through a lack of trying as he was energetic and lively, particularly in the first half, and was not afraid to show his emotions.
Throwing his arms towards the sky, punching the air in frustration and roaring his dismay at missed chances became a common trend - but when his moment came to shine, he did not seize it.
The narrative threatened to swing the other way - but like Ronaldo, Slovenia talisman Sesko missed his big opportunity with four minutes left on the clock.
It was a match of 'what ifs' but ultimately Portugal, who created the better chances and had controlled large periods, deserved their victory and credit must go to Costa for his sensational individual performance in the shootout.
When Silva netted the final spot-kick, he raced over to his goalkeeper to celebrate, with Ronaldo among those sprinting behind, no doubt unleashing huge feelings of relief and elation.
Slovenia fans have experienced a memorable few days, with this their country's first appearance in the knockout stages of a major tournament.
They arrived draped in flags, chanting, banging drums and dancing in the stands two hours before kick-off.
When Ronaldo's penalty was tipped on to the post by Oblak, they let off flares in the stands at Frankfurt Arena and jeered as his earlier chances went unconverted.
Slovenia's players responded to their support, growing in confidence as the game wore on and becoming more of a threat on the counter-attack.
Sesko had a few chances before his one-on-one with Costa but Oblak was kept busy throughout at the other end, making crucial late saves to deny Palhinha and Ronaldo.
In the end, Slovenia exit the competition having not lost a match in 90 or 120 minutes - drawing all of their group games before this shootout defeat, including a hard-earned point against England.
They will leave with their heads held high - their supporters were still celebrating their achievements long after the finish.
After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.
Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 7 |
| |
2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| |
3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | -3 | 3 |
| |
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | -5 | 1 |
|
Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 9 |
| |
2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| |
3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 2 |
| |
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 1 |
|
Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| |
2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| |
3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| |
4 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 2 |
|
Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| |
2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| |
3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| |
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 1 |
|
Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| |
2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| |
3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| |
4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 4 |
|
Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
| |
2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 6 |
| |
3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| |
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 1 |
|
Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| |
2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| |
3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| |
4 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| |
5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | -3 | 3 |
| |
6 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 2 |
|
Manager: Roberto Martínez
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Matjaz Kek
Formation: 4 - 4 - 2
Manager: Roberto Martínez
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Matjaz Kek
Formation: 4 - 4 - 2
UEFA European Championship
All competitions
All competitions
All competitions
This will be just the second ever meeting between Portugal and Slovenia, with the previous one coming back in March this year – a 2-0 friendly victory for Slovenia in Ljubljana.
Coming into the first knockout round at EURO 2024, Portugal currently hold the record for the biggest margin of victory in a round of 16 game at a major tournament (World Cup/EUROs): 6-1 v Switzerland at the 2022 World Cup.
Slovenia will play their first ever match in the knockout stages at a major tournament (World Cup/EUROs), while this will be Portugal’s 26th such match. Since winning EURO 2016, however, Portugal have lost three of their four games in the knockout stages at major tournaments (W1).
Portugal’s defeat against Georgia last time out ended a run of 12 consecutive wins in competitive action, while they haven’t lost back-to-back competitive games since EURO 2008 – 0-2 v Switzerland in the group stage and 2-3 v Germany in the quarter-final.
Slovenia have averaged just 32% possession at EURO 2024 so far, with only two sides progressing from the group stage at a single edition of the UEFA European Championship with a lower average – Iceland at EURO 2016 (29%) and Sweden at EURO 2020 (30%).
Only Germany (69% and 57) averaged more possession and had more shots than Portugal (67% and 53) during the EURO 2024 group stage, while Julian Nagelsmann’s (16) side were also the only team who faced fewer shots than Portugal during the group (23).
Cristiano Ronaldo hasn’t scored in any of his last seven appearances for Portugal at major tournaments, his longest such drought across the UEFA European Championship and World Cup. He’s had 19 shots across the two competitions since last scoring versus Ghana at the 2022 World Cup.
Vitinha has completed more line-breaking passes (29) than any other Portugal player at EURO 2024, while his pass completion rate under high pressure is also the best of any player for his country (90% - min. 50 attempted).
Andraz Sporar and Benjamin Sesko have started all three of Slovenia’s games as a striker pair at EURO 2024, although they’re yet to score from a combined 12 shots between them (seven by Sporar and five by Sesko).
Slovenia midfielder Adam Gnezda Cerin made more high-intensity pressures (196) than any other player in the group stage at EURO 2024, while only Georgia’s Giorgi Kochorashvili (161) made more specifically in the defensive half than Gnezda Cerin (148).