They were the only shots or headers on target in the entire game, and ended a fast counter attack just after Croatia forward Ivan Perisic had struck the post with a header.
Advertisement
Ronaldo’s old friend Ricardo Quaresma applied the finishing touch after the Real Madrid star’s initial effort – Portugal’s first on target – was parried by Danijel Subasic into the Besiktas winger’s path for a simple finish to snatch a 1-0 win on Saturday.
Portugal will face Poland in the quarter-finals in Marseille on Thursday, after the Polish team beat Switzerland 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw earlier on Saturday.
A disappointing last-16 tie appeared to be heading for a penalty shootout, but Quaresma headed home three minutes before the end of extra-time to send Fernando Santos’s team into the final eight. “Today we were the lucky ones”.
We worked hard, we knew the difficulties we were going to encounter, the stress, the anxiety that comes with the game, but I think we should congratulate ourselves. Corluka said that Portugal were not good enough to win the tournament, but in knockout football that is not always exactly how it works.
Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo will rarely get a better chance than at Euro 2016 to land the only major honour lacking in his glittering career by leading his country to victory in a major finals. For the rest of us watching Portugal vs. Croatia in Euro 2016’s round of 16, it was a nightmare of a match, not that anyone in Portugal will mind. With neither side remotely bothering the goalkeepers and Croatia even putting their free-kicks straight out of play by the end, extra time was inevitable.
“We were up against an incredible team and this was always going to be tight and strong”.
It was tough on Croatia, as they played splendidly in that final period. Nani’s astute pass set up Ronaldo for the first clear strike at goal of the evening. Eventually, Portuguese got the break that they’ve been waiting for and Renato Sanches is the one that should get the credits for making it happen. Within minutes of the start, Ronaldo was seen telling his teammates to move up the pitch and help him press the Croatia back four and Modric who were seeing a lot of the ball without really advancing past the midfield.
“I’m very happy, of course”, said Sanches after the game.
Contrast England manager Roy Hodgson’s tinkering at these Euros with Wales counterpart Chris Coleman’s absolute conviction that he knows his best formation and his best team.
Croatia held the upper hand for most of the first half but it was Portugal which had the first effort on goal when defender Pepe headed Raphael Guerreiro’s free-kick over the bar after Ronaldo was tripped by Perisic.
Portugal felt they should have had a penalty with 64 minutes on the clock when Nani was caught by a high boot from Ivan Strinic, but referee Carlos Velasco Carballo was unmoved.
A kind draw has left Portugal with an eminently winnable quarterfinal against Poland which would be followed by a semifinal against Wales, Hungary or Belgium. Portugal are a high-quality side with experienced players.
Advertisement
“We played well the whole tournament and don’t deserve to be out”.
