Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Euro 2024, Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo, France, FIFA World Cup, Football World Cup
Ben McCrum
Topics: Euro 2024, Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo, France, FIFA World Cup, Football World Cup
Slovenia have broken a weird Euros and World Cup record after drawing 0-0 to Portugal on Monday night.
The round of 16 of the 2024 European Championships comes to a close on Tuesday night, as The Netherlands face Romania and Austria play Turkey in the final matches of the first knockout stage.
On Monday night, France scored a late goal to defeat Belgium 1-0, while Slovenia managed to hold Portugal to a 0-0 draw, but ultimately lost 3-0 in the first penalty shootout of the tournament.
And the latter result means that Slovenia has broken a unique European Championships and World Cup record.
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According to X user MisterChiping, Slovenia are the first national team in the history of both the Euros and the World Cup to be knocked out with four draws in four games.
In their first Euro 2024 match, Slovenia drew 1-1 with Denmark with the goal coming as defender Erik Janza scored from a corner in the 77th minute.
They repeated this result four days later against Serbia, with right-back Zan Karmicnik scoring the opening goal for Slovenia in the 69th minute.
Unfortunately for Slovenia, Serbian striker Luka Jovic secured an injury time equaliser, splitting the points between the two sides.
And in their final group match, Matjaž Kek’s side held England to a goalless draw, securing both sides progression to the knockout stages of the tournament.
As they walked out to face Portugal in the round of 16, many thought that Slovenia had no chance against the star talent of Roberto Martinez’s side.
But the underdogs survived through 120 minutes, with the biggest moment of the match coming as Cristiano Ronaldo was seen sobbing after missing a penalty in the 15th minute of extra time that would have likely secured progression for his side.
Slovenia had a big chance of their own in the 115th minute after a mistake from Portuguese defender Pepe allowed Slovenian’s talisman Benjamin Sesko to burst through on goal.
But Portuguese goalkeeper Diogo Costa got the best of the 1 on 1 stopping Sesko's shot and taking the match to a penalties.
Costa produced similar heroics in the shootout, saving all three of Slovenia’s penalties, meaning that goals from Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva were enough to secure the win for Portugal.
Portugal will face France in the quarterfinals on Friday night in Hamburg’s Volksparkstadion, with the kick off at 8pm BST.
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