Sports

Portugal knock Croatia out of Euro 2016

Published

8 years ago

June 26, 2016

A goal from Ricardo Quaresma in the second period of extra time sent Portugal into the Euro2016 quarter-finals as they beat Croatia 1-0 in Lens.

The winger nodded home from virtually on the goal-line on 117 minutes after Danijel Subasic had saved Cristiano Ronaldo’s close range effort – but the unlucky goalkeeper could only parry into Quaresma’s path.

Aside from a frantic final five minutes the contest was a dreadful affair with not a single shot on target in the 90 minutes, a first for the European Championships and not seen at this tournament or at a World Cup since 1966.

Domagoj Vida came closest for the Croats, sending two headers wide of the target when handily placed while he also hooked a last-gasp chance wide in the dying seconds.

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Marcelo Brozovic also went close with headers while Ivan Perisic hit the bar.

In truth Croatia can have few complaints as their fear of being hit on the counter-attack so them take few risks and that – along with an unadventurous display from their opponents – resulted in a match which spectacularly failed to live up to expectations.

While Croatia, who many thought could go all the way to the final, go home, Portugal will have to improve substantially if they are to have any chance of winning the tournament.

Portugal will now take on Poland in the first quarter final on Thursday night which takes place at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille.

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