It was a game to forget for Cristiano Ronaldo, but Portugal progress to the quarter-finals of the European Championship to face France after winning a shootout against Slovenia. Ronaldo's penalty at the end of the first period of extra time was saved by Slovenian keeper Jan Oblak. With the score tied after regulation time, Portugal were awarded a penalty for a foul on Diogo Jota, but despite Ronaldo's powerful shot, Oblak gambled well and saved the equaliser heading into the second period of extra time.
Ronaldo had to be consoled by his teammates as he was in tears after missing the penalty. At 39, no one knows if this will be Ronaldo’s last Euros, so it’s a moment that means a lot to him. He was the focal point of the Portuguese attack and took seven shots in the game, but Oblak was on target for all four of them. Those shots generated an xG of 1.33.
Ronaldo had his chance to save the match by starting the penalty shootout, beating Oblak by going in the opposite direction of his first spot-kick, before Portuguese keeper Diogo Costa stopped all three penalties he faced, giving his team all the momentum.
The striker also leads all players in shots at the European Championship, but is still searching for his first goal of the tournament, having only managed an assist so far. It leaves Roberto Martinez with something to think about with Fance in the offing. Should Ronaldo be benched for another option such as Diogo Jota or Goncalo Ramos, or is it better to field a 39-year-old who has played 366 minutes of the tournament and is yet to score a goal?
We may get to the point where Portugal are better without Ronaldo on the pitch, but they don’t have much time to find out. France are coming and while Les Bleus have yet to score a goal from open play, they have only conceded one goal in their four games, a penalty from Robert Lewandowski.
The Portuguese attack is not running well and Martinez will have to change that as soon as possible, otherwise their Euro dream will fall apart.
