João Palhinha’s Portugal booked their spot in the European Championship Quarter-Finals with a penalty shootout victory over Slovenia on Monday night.
It was a third successive start for Palhinha in Frankfurt, and an impressive display in the centre of midfield saw him end up playing all 120 minutes.
Portugal struggled to create good chances against a disciplined and gutsy Slovenia side, with Palhinha going closest to a breakthrough in the first half when his low strike from the edge of the D kissed the outside of the post in stoppage time.
Cristiano Ronaldo had a couple of chances but was denied by Jan Oblak each time, while at the other end Benjamin Sesko dragged a good chance wide, meaning extra-time was needed.
Ronaldo had a golden opportunity in the first half of extra-time when Diogo Jota was fouled in the area, but the Portugal captain saw his penalty brilliantly saved by Oblak.
It looked like that might cost Portugal dearly when Sesko took advantage of a Pepe mistake in the second period to burst through one-on-one, but Diogo Costa made a crucial save to take the tie to penalties.
That was a sign of things to come, with the Porto goalkeeper saving all three of Slovenia’s kicks to book his side’s place in the Quarters, where they will face France on Friday night.
Timothy Castagne’s Euros came to a cruel end when a late Jan Vertonghen own goal earned France a 1-0 win in Dusseldorf.
In a game that lacked an abundance of quality moments, Kevin De Bruyne drew a save from a first half free-kick, before Marcus Thuram headed over at the other end when he should have done better.
In the second half, Koen Casteels had to react well to keep out Aurélien Tchouaméni’s deflected strike, but there was nothing he could do in the 85th minute to keep out Randal Kolo Muani’s effort as it hit Vertonghen on its way through to leave the Belgium goalkeeper helpless.
Castagne was his usual reliable self at right-back but was then sacrificed for Charles De Ketelaere as Belgium looked for an equaliser, which was not forthcoming unfortunately.
