Roberto Martinez hailed Diogo Costa as ‘probably the most hidden secret in European soccer’ after Portugal’s shootout victory over Slovenia at Euro 2024.
Costa was Portugal’s saviour in Portugal’s last-16 tie on Monday night as he grew to become the primary goalkeeper within the historical past of the match to save lots of three penalties in a shootout.
The Porto goalkeeper additionally produced an excellent one-on-one save to disclaim Benjamin Sesko a purpose for Slovenia within the closing jiffy of additional time.
Talking after his aspect’s win on penalties, Portugal head coach Martinez stated: ‘I believe Portugal’s secret is Diogo Costa. Diogo Costa is probably the most hidden secret in European soccer and as we speak he confirmed up.
‘As we speak I believe he reached a totally completely different degree. The one-on-one state of affairs was unbelievable. Then he had the main focus to make three consecutive saves. We have now to be very happy with him.’
Martinez additionally hailed the braveness of Cristiano Ronaldo, who was diminished to tears after his penalty was saved by Jan Oblak within the first half of additional time.
The 39-year-old then stepped up as Portugal’s first taker within the shootout and managed to beat Oblak with an effort into the alternative nook.
‘He [Ronaldo] doesn’t have to care that a lot and that’s why I thank him for being the way in which he’s, for caring for the group … I used to be sure he needed to be the primary penalty taker and present us the way in which to the victory,’ Martinez stated.
PORTUGAL’S ROUTE TO EURO 2024 FINAL
QUARTER FINAL – July 5 at 8pm
Portugal vs France
SEMI FINAL – July 9 at 8pm
Portugal vs Spain or Germany
FINAL – July 14 at 8pm
Portugal vs England, Switzerland, Austria, Turkey, Romania or Netherlands
‘I believe all of us felt very happy with our captain. The dressing room was delighted with what he’s doing. I believe he gave us all a lesson, that that you must dwell day by day as if it’s the final one.
‘You want to have actual excessive requirements and by no means surrender – life and soccer offers you troublesome moments, and the way in which he reacted is an actual instance that we’re very happy with in Portuguese soccer.’
Portugal will now play France, who beat Belgium 1-0 of their last-16 conflict earlier on Monday, of their quarter-final tie on Friday at 8pm.
‘We don’t need days off, we wish to be right here, now we’re centered and centered on France, this Euros is red-hot, and three days is sufficient to prepare for the following recreation,’ Martinez stated.
‘France are very sturdy and issues are inclined to get more durable defensively, however within the assault perhaps there’s extra space behind the strains. So this can be a stronger opponent they usually may cause extra points, but it surely’s a greater opponent since you’ll have extra probabilities.’
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