Euro 2024: Ronaldo misses penalty as Portugal, France limp into quarter-final

Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty in extra time, but Portugal defeated Slovenia 3-0 on penalties in the second round of the 2024 European Championship.

Diogo Costa stopped three penalties in the shootout to secure a nervy victory for the Selecao over the Slovenians at the Frankfurt Arena on Monday.

The match had ended goalless after 120 minutes of the entertaining encounter.

It was a night of misses for both sides, as Portugal failed to make the most of their chances. Ronaldo missed the penalty awarded in extra time, while Benjamin Sesko also missed a one-on-one chance that could have won the encounter for Slovenia.

Portugal lost their last group match to Georgia, but their regulars returned for this knockout tie, yet it was frustrating for the Selecao.

Rafael Leao and Joao Palhinha both saw their shots sail wide while Jan Oblak parried Ronaldo’s free-kick late in the half, and the scores remained level at the interval.

The 39-year-old had chances in the second period, but Oblak was up to the task each time, and the pulsating encounter took up extra time.

The highlight of the duo’s duel came when Oblak brilliantly saved a Ronaldo penalty to the right, stretching to push the well-struck kick to put his nation with a chance of an upset that was almost completed in the final minutes when Sesko was one-on-one with the goalkeeper but failed to score.

The tired legs could not find a decider, and penalties were required to determine a winner. Portugal were in a territory where they had won three of its last four.

Diogo Costa was the Portuguese hero on the night. The goalkeeper saved all three penalties he faced, while Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, and Bernardo Silva all scored to send Portugal through to the last eight.

They will face Kylian Mbappe-led France after Les Blues dispatched Belgium 1-0 earlier in the day thanks to an 87th-minute own goal by Jan Vertonghen, who deflected Kolo Muani’s shot into his own net.