Head coach Roberto Martínez has hailed goalkeeper Diogo Costa after his heroics powered Portugal into the quarterfinals of Euro 2024, Soccernet.football reports.
Portugal were forced to a goalless draw by Slovenia during regulation and extra time before winning 3-0 on penalties.
Captain Cristiano Ronaldo had the chance to win the game for the Selecao in extra time but Slovenia goalkeeper Jan Oblak saved his effort.
However, Costa came to Portugal’s rescue during the shootouts, saving all of Slovenia’s three kicks to send his side to the quarterfinals.
Costa was named the Man of the Match after he became the first goalkeeper to not concede in a EURO penalty shoot-out and Martínez believes the Porto man is Portigal’s best kept secret.
“The secret of Portugal is Diogo Costa, he’s the most hidden secret in European football,” Martínez told UEFA.
“Today he appeared on a different level, he was incredible in the one-on-one situation, and then he had the focus and quality to make three consecutive saves in the shoot-out, we have to be very proud of him.”
Martínez, however, saved some thoughts for his captain Ronaldo after the Al Nassr striker endured a rollercoaster evening.
After missing his penalty in extra time, Ronaldo stepped up to convert Portugal’s first kick during the shootout to open the floodgates for his team.
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“Ronaldo missed a penalty and then was decisive when he started the penalty shoot-out, he paved the way,” Martínez added.
“It was a victory for unity, from the dressing room and Cristiano is our captain and he showed that in life and in football there are difficult moments and we can’t give up, we have to keep going and it was a demonstration of what to do when things aren’t going well.”
For goalkeeper Diogo Costa, however, the game against Slovenia will be one he will not forget in a hurry.
Costa had kept Portugal in the game when he made an incredible one-on-one stop against Slovenia’s highly-rated striker Benjamin Šeško.
“This is probably the best game of my life,” Costa said.
“I focused on doing what I had to do. I went with my gut feeling. Of course we had analysed the penalty takers, but players change and they change how they shoot. I am very happy and very excited to have helped the team.
“We all felt we needed to keep believing [after Ronaldo’s first penalty]. We believed until the very end and we’re all very happy.”
Diogo Costa and company will now take on France for the third EURO tournament running, having met in the 2016 showpiece and in the group stage of the 2020 edition.
