What looked like a nervy campaign for Portugal took a sigh of relief as the team booked its place in the Euro 2024 quarterfinals following a nail-biting victory over Slovenia in the dramatic encounter at the Düsseldorf Arena on Monday. Neither team could find the net in regular and extra time; hence, it had to be decided by a tense penalty shootout.

Goalkeeper Diogo Costa proved to be the hero of Portugal in the shootout. In tension-wracked moments, Costa pulled off some wonders to prevent Josip Iličić, Jure Balkovec, and Benjamin Verbič at the spot. Captain Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, and Bernardo Silva converted their penalties to send Portugal into raptures and a quarterfinal date with arch-rivals France.

This victory was an emotional rollercoaster for the Portuguese. They would go into their next match with relief, but some questions still hung over them about attacking performance. But with a rejuvenated, replenished defence and steely goalkeeper in motion, Costa showed they could get out of a jam. Now, Roberto Martínez’s men will face a familiar foe in France, with a place in the semifinals at stake.