Portugal Secures Quarter-Final Berth After Dramatic Penalty Shoot-Out Victory

Portugal has clinched a spot in the quarter-finals after a tense encounter against Slovenia ended in a penalty shoot-out. Despite Martinez's side struggling throughout the match, they managed to prevail, defeating Slovenia 3-0 on penalties.

The game saw both teams battle intensely over 120 minutes, with Portugal limiting Slovenia to just 1.87 expected goals. Cristiano Ronaldo, at 39 years old, played a crucial role, scoring Portugal's first penalty in extra time after missing an earlier spot-kick.

Goalkeeper Costa emerged as the hero for Martinez's men, saving all three of Slovenia's penalty attempts, including a crucial stop against Sesko late in the game. Slovenia managed 0.5 expected goals overall, but Costa's outstanding performance ensured their efforts were in vain.

Portugal now looks ahead to a challenging encounter with France in the next round, aiming to continue their journey in the tournament.