Diogo Costa played a starring role in sending Portugal into the Euro 2024 quarter-finals after claiming a 3-0 shoot-out victory against Slovenia at the Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt.

In Belgium’s instance, this was retaliation for their painful 1-0 loss to France in the 2018 World Cup semi-finals, which still stings six years later.

France, on the other hand, had a point to prove at the Euros after losing to Switzerland on penalties in the round of sixteen three years prior, a very disappointing outcome in between trips to back-to-back World Cup finals.

Before travelling to Germany, the French were viewed as the clear favourites to win this competition, but they performed poorly in the group stage.

Not helping matters was Mbappe’s fractured nose in their first game against Austria, and Antoine Griezmann’s inconsistent play has also been an issue.

After being benched for the last group game against Poland, Griezmann made one of two substitutions here, with Marcus Thuram replacing the outgoing wingers Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola.

In response to his team’s lacklustre performances during the group stage, Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco started Yannick Carrasco and Lois Openda, with De Bruyne taking on a more subdued role.

With the exception of an uncomfortable De Bruyne free kick that the France custodian blocked with his leg, the Belgians were content to sit deep and did not put Mike Maignan to the test in the first half.

Despite having a lot of possession of the ball, Griezmann seemed to be lost on the right wing, and France frequently appeared messy, erroneous, and lifeless.

However, they had opportunities in the first half, as Aurelien Tchouameni twice missed the mark and Thuram headed just wide from Jules Kounde’s enticing cross shortly after the half-hour mark.

France then stepped up their game at the start of the second half, testing Casteels with a deflected long-range shot.

A goal appeared to be imminent as Mbappe surged inside and curled a shot narrowly over.

An hour in, Belgium nearly made a breakthrough when William Saliba lost possession on halfway and De Bruyne released Carrasco. Just as Carrasco was about to shoot, Theo Hernandez arrived and made a fantastic save block.

Twenty minutes later, Maignan was eventually called into action again, this time to stop a drive from Lukaku and to deny De Bruyne.

It was starting to look like one goal would win the match, and in the 85th, Les Bleus prevailed thanks to a goal from Kolo Muani, who was set up by N’Golo Kante and deflected off Vertonghen.

“First it was sadness and then it was joy, that’s what football gives you, inexplicable moments, a bit of everything,” said Ronaldo.

“I didn’t make a single mistake this year and when I needed something the most, Oblak saved it.

“Slovenia spent the whole game defending and when that happens, it all becomes difficult.”

Despite scoring in each of the previous five Euros, 39-year-old Ronaldo has yet to score in the competition in four outings.

After 12 minutes, the victors of Euro 2016 controlled the ball and created their first opportunity when Silva’s tempting cross narrowly missed Ronaldo and Fernandes was unable to convert at the far post.

In their maiden knockout match at a major competition, Slovenia skillfully preserved their defensive form and curtailed Portugal’s chances.

Under crucial pressure from Vanja Drkusic, the former Real Madrid striker Ronaldo headed softly towards his old rival, Atletico Madrid custodian Oblak.

Shortly after, the Slovenian defender received a booking for colliding with the aggressive Rafael Leao as he made his way towards Oblak’s goal.

Ronaldo sent the free kick just over the bar when the goalie was fully extended.

Benjamin Sesko of RB Leipzig fired at Costa from the edge of the box shortly before halftime, marking Slovenia’s first shot on goal.

After further excellent work by the dangerous Leao, Portugal’s holding midfielder Joao Palhinha struck the outside of the post with a low drive for the game’s last kick of the first half.

Early in the second half, Ronaldo again produced a fierce free-kick that caused Oblak to make a strong save as the Al-Nassr forward attempted in vain to breach Slovenia’s defensive line.

On a rare spurt forward, Matjaz Kek’s team had a great opportunity to grab the lead, but Sesko dragged wide after outpacing Pepe, the oldest player in the competition’s history, 41, for pace.

With twenty minutes remaining, Portugal’s captain Ronaldo hammered another free kick over the crossbar. Two minutes later, he was through on the left, but Oblak denied him.

Extra-time saw a slowdown in play, and the first half was unremarkable until Jota stormed into the area in the 103rd minute, falling over Drkusic’s leg to earn a penalty.

Ronaldo hit a strong shot to Oblak’s left, but the goalie made an incredible stop to keep it out after tipping it against the post.

After his miss, Ronaldo broke down in tears during the halftime of extra time. The Portuguese supporters attempted to cheer him up by singing his name.

When Pepe mishandled the ball and Sesko stole it to break through for a goal, Slovenia lost yet another fantastic opportunity.

The attacker shot too close to Costa, who made a fantastic leg save to force a penalty shootout—the first in Slovenian history.

Costa made a fantastic stop to deny Slovenia’s first goal, which was scored by substitute Josip Ilicic.

After Jure Balkovec’s second-half penalty kick was saved by Costa, Ronaldo planted his kick and thanked the supporters behind the goal for their forgiveness for his missed extra-time opportunity.

Once Silva won it by sending Oblak the wrong way and Fernandes converted, the outstanding Costa saved three straight penalties from Benjamin Verbic.