It was a match to forget for Cristiano Ronaldo but Portugal will move on to the quarterfinals of the Euros to play France after winning a shootout over Slovenia. Ronaldo's penalty at the end of the first period of extra time was saved by Slovenian keeper Jan Oblak. With the match tied after regulation, Portugal were awarded a penalty for a foul on Diogo Jota but despite Ronaldo shooting with power, Oblak guessed right and preserved the draw heading into the second period of extra time.
OBLAK DENIES RONALDO 😱 pic.twitter.com/R3yHtYPFEi
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 1, 2024
Ronaldo had to be consoled by his teammates due to being in tears after missing the penalty. At 39, who knows if this could be the final European Championship that Ronaldo plays in so it's a moment that means a lot for him. He's been the focal point of Portugal's attack taking seven shots in the match but Oblak was there for all four that hit the target. Those shots generated an xG of 1.33.
Ronaldo got his chance at redemption by starting off the penalty shootout and beating Oblak by going in the opposite direction of his first penalty before Portuguese keeper Diogo Costa saved all three penalties that he saw to give his team all of the momentum.
Another look at that PERFECT Ronaldo PK 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/dmd24WPkzQ
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 1, 2024
The striker also leads all players at Euros in shots but is still in search of his first goal of the tournament only having an assist so far. It leaves Roberto Martinez with something to ponder with Fance on the horizon. Should Ronaldo be benched for another option like Diogo Jota or Goncalo Ramos or is it better to run out a 39-year-old who has played 366 minutes so far during the tournament and has yet to score a goal?
We could be coming to a time where Portugal are better when Ronaldo isn't on the pitch but they won't have much time to figure that out. France are looming and while Les Bleus haven't scored a goal from open play, they've also only conceded one goal in their four matches played which was a penalty scored by Robert Lewandowski.
The Portugues attack isn't clicking and Martinez will need to change that sooner than later or their Euro dreams will come to a screeching halt.
