Portugal’s Diogo Costa Stuns in Penalty Shootout WinPortugal’s Diogo Costa Stuns in Penalty Shootout Win Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa played a heroic role in his team’s 3-0 penalty shootout victory over Slovenia, securing their place in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals. After a goalless draw in regulation and extra time, Costa became the first goalkeeper to save three penalties without conceding in an EC shootout. He praised the effort as the “game of his life” and emphasized his focus on instinct rather than body language reading. Despite Cristiano Ronaldo’s missed penalty in extra time, Costa remained positive. “We felt we needed to keep believing,” he said. “Everyone makes mistakes. But what’s important is our response.” Bernardo Silva scored the decisive penalty for Portugal, who will face France in the quarter-finals on Saturday. Costa’s heroics extended the team’s unbeaten streak in the tournament.
Portuguese goalkeeper Diogo Costa (Source: Reuters)
Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa was stunned as he saved all three penalties in a 3-0 penalty shootout win over Slovenia to secure a place in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024.
The match had ended 0-0 after extra time and Costa was the hero, becoming the first goalkeeper to save three penalties and not concede a single goal in the penalty shootout at the European Championship.
“I think this was the game of my life,” he told reporters. “Maybe the game where I was most useful. I’m very, very happy and I’m also very excited that I helped the team.”
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The man of the match tried to read the body language of the Slovenian penalty takers, but in the end it was pure instinct. “I thought, I have to stop this – and I followed my gut feeling.”
Although the match was still 0-0 after 90 minutes, Cristiano Ronaldo had the chance to break the deadlock for Portugal from the penalty spot in the first half of extra time.
However, Slovenian goalkeeper Jan Oblak made a spectacular save from the Portuguese captain, causing Ronaldo to become visibly emotional and burst into tears.
“Cristiano is the hardest working, I understand how frustrated he is, he spends all his time on this,” Costa said.
“We felt we had to keep believing. Everyone makes mistakes. But what’s important is what we do after we make those mistakes,” he added.
Bernardo Silva scored the winning penalty in the shootout for Portugal, who will face France in the quarter-finals in Hamburg on Saturday, after beating Belgium 1-0 earlier on Monday.
