Cristiano Ronaldo kissed the ball and positioned it on the penalty spot. What number of instances has he accomplished that within the final 20 years?
His potential to beat the goalkeeper from 12 yards has been an integral a part of his expertise, which is integral to his declare to be the best ever.
If he can do it once more, beat Jan Oblak and ultimately break the Slovenian resistance within the first half of additional time, Portugal will certainly attain the quarter-finals in opposition to France in Hamburg on Friday.
Ronaldo hits the ball clear and firmly in the direction of the nook however Oblak goes to the suitable, will get a hand to the ball and hits the submit however goes out.
It was a rare save, extra a save than a miss, and an indication of Slovenia’s refusal to dwell as much as expectations.
Diogo Costa proved to be Portugal's hero, saving three penalties within the shootout in opposition to Slovenia.
Costa saved all of Slovenia's penalties after the match ended goalless after further time
Cristiano Ronaldo was left in tears after having his penalty saved within the first interval of additional time.
They may most likely additionally say there was justice, as a result of they didn't assume it was a foul on Diogo Jota as he went down within the field.
Ronaldo was left distressed by the miss and broke down in tears because the groups gathered for the interval in further time, together with his team-mates supporting him and followers singing his identify.
It was a kind of nights when the ball simply didn't need to go in. Largely, it was the Portuguese who have been denied a aim, however Ronaldo missed a penalty and Benjamin Cesco additionally missed an amazing likelihood to guide Slovenia's place within the final eight earlier than the shootout.
Cesco took benefit of a uncommon mistake from Pepe and scored previous goalkeeper Diogo Costa.
Costa stretched his body and made a block. Portugal's goalkeeper was the hero of the night time, saving three penalties.
Josip Ilicic scored the primary aim. Then Ronaldo got here again to the identical finish of the stadium, confronted Oblak and this time made no mistake.
Costa made two extra good saves from Jure Blakhovec and Benjamin Verbic whereas Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva scored.
Ultimately, Slovenia misplaced. Portugal will face France in Hamburg on Friday. Ronaldo, the one man to have performed in six Euros, remains to be attempting to turn out to be the primary participant to attain in six.
Ronaldo converts Portugal's first penalty in shootout in Frankfurt after a irritating night time
The ahead raised his hand and apologised after lacking a spot-kick throughout further time
Slovenia's resistance crumbled within the shoot-out, with Benjamin Verbic lacking one in every of three
He's nonetheless writing the script, even when issues appear to be conspiring in opposition to him, as they did right here for a lot of the time.
Portugal dominated however Slovenia caught to their ways, have been properly organised and decided. They’re bodily robust. They put a bit strain on gamers. They disrupt the rhythm. They usually annoyed their opponents as they did with England within the group sport.
Ronaldo was carefully watched all night time by Vanja Drakusic, who withstood the problem and stood agency with Ronaldo. When she was unable to beat him with a mid-air header throughout the face of aim, the Slovenian centre-half made each bodily contact doable to cease him.
Ronaldo smashed a header into Oblak's gloves and was livid with himself when he mistimed one other from Silva's cross. He narrowly saved a free-kick from a great place simply exterior the field and went miles huge on a ridiculous, over-ambitious effort in the direction of aim from Portugal's left wing.
He was hardly ever removed from centre stage, though Slovenia’s largest drawback within the first half got here when Leao created house to dribble the ball previous proper again Zan Karnicnik.
Palhinha as soon as once more drove the ball low in opposition to the skin of the submit after an identical run, however regardless of all their dominance Portugal have been unable to search out the breakthrough and a few bodily consideration pressured them to turn out to be extra aggressive.
Ronaldo appeared visibly disenchanted after his penalty was saved by Slovenia's Jan Oblak.
Oblak dives full drive to cease Ronaldo from giving Portugal the lead in further time
The Slovenia captain was congratulated by his teammates after his good penalty save
Benjamin Cesco was saved by Portugal's Diogo Costa in further time.
Ronaldo threw his arms up and down in frustration.
Slovenian flashes have been uncommon. Benjamin Cesko grabbed an excellent shot from distance late within the first half however it went straight into Diogo Costa's arms, then he dribbled previous Pepe within the second however failed to complete.
The sample of the competition had been set. Portugal on high, Slovenia positioned on the barricades. Silva missed a great likelihood. Being so aggressive in entrance of aim was not in his nature. Ronaldo hit a free-kick at Oblak, who dodged it, then scuffed one other free-kick huge.
It wasn't for lack of attempting, however as a result of there was no manner. Oblak made determined sliding blocks and saves, together with an effort to cease Ronaldo once more within the 89th minute after which a penalty in further time. However Portugal reached the quarter-finals.
