Portugal rarely loses. However, the paradox is that this year they lost to Slovenia. It happened in March: Roberto Martinez’s team came to Ljubljana, scored a couple of goals in the end and made Cristiano Ronaldo very angry. He argued with the referee, with his teammates, but could do nothing. Yes, this is already history. It does not work at Euro 2024. Here the Portuguese were considered the undisputed favorites. They confidently went through the group stage, losing points only to Georgia when they fielded a second team. The same cannot be said about Slovenia: they have three draws and two goals in the tournament. This allowed them to take third place. And they immediately come up against an elite rival in the first phase of the playoffs. Few people expected a continuation of this story.
Martinez brought all the main players back into the starting lineup and did without rotation. The attack is the same: Ronaldo, Rafael Leao, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva. The names are great. But at Euro 2024, these four have only two goals so far: Fernandes and Silva scored in the match against Turkey. These are not great numbers for players of such high status. I felt especially sad for Cristiano: from what positions and from what distance he hit. But at the start of the round of 16, the legendary Portuguese had 0 goals.
Matjaz Kek hasn’t changed much either. He was without defender Eric Janzhu, but he solved this problem without any pain. Slovenia came out to play as expected. Almost everyone is in defence and there are two forwards up front: Benjamin Sesko and Andraz Szporar. If it works, why change anything?
France has already reached the quarter-finals:
France has pirated football. It reached the quarter-finals of the European Championship without a goal in play!
The Portuguese started with great intensity and ingenuity. The attacking players changed places and tried to climb up, but the Slovenians seemed too calm. It was impossible to surprise them with anything. When you defend most of the time, you apparently develop immunity. And nothing is scary anymore. The kick-off is on: Vanja Drkusic and Jaka Bijol take charge. Quick passes: the props are on. Their composure was enviable. Although we were allowed to reach the penalty area, the next step was forbidden. Therefore, the Portuguese probably created the most dangerous moment of the first half after taking a free kick. Ronaldo, as always, did not let anyone get to the ball and hit it hard, but just over the goal.
The favorites had the ball for about 70% of the time, but attacked for five to seven minutes. They joined the aggression, ran at the defense and took a break. That’s how the first half went.
Portugal – Slovenia – 0:0 (penalties 3:0)
Photo: Stu Forster/Getty Images
During the break, the coaches left the same players on the field. And already at the beginning of the second half, the Portuguese could have done what they should have: Joao Cancelo burst into the penalty area from the flank and crossed, but Bruno shot the ball to the left post. A few minutes later, a new standard and again a powerful strike from Ronaldo. This time he hit the target, but Jan Oblak was not ashamed of that moment.
Time passed, chances were not taken and from around the 60th minute onwards the Portuguese attack was more noisy than constructive. At the same time, the Slovenians could have scored: a new clearance from the box sent Sheshko running. From distance he got ahead of Pepe and was almost in front of the goalkeeper, but his shot was too weak and wide of the target.
Is Leo cooler than Cristiano?
Messi is much better than Ronaldo. His performances on the Kop and at the Euros are incredibly different!
In the end, Ronaldo had another chance: Diogo Jota put him in a shooting position and he fired again from 15 metres. Strongly, but definitely into the hands of the Cloud. The Portuguese, objectively, played the second half weaker than the first. Naturally, the match went into extra time.
The pace of the game, of course, did not increase. However, in the 103rd minute everything should have come together: Jota dragged the ball into the box and hit Drkusic’s leg. There was no obvious touch, but the referee blew for a penalty. Cristiano got close to the ball. And then there was a second of curse that personifies the entire tournament: he made a great shot into the corner, but Oblak’s jump was even better. The goalkeeper made this shot. And a few minutes later, Ronaldo, surrounded by his teammates, burst into tears.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s tears
Photo: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
In the second extra time, Sheshko missed another chance. Just another game of missed opportunities: Pepe tripped out of nowhere and the striker flew at the goalkeeper again. This time he at least got a shot on target, but it was not enough. The Leipzig striker could have ended it all, though.
The match went to penalties and goalkeeper Diogo Costa was at his best. The Portuguese goalkeeper made three of three shots, constantly guessing the direction. Ronaldo scored this time. And he even apologised to the crowd.
Roberto Martínez’s team is still in the running. They will face France in the quarter-finals.
