🔬 The Debrief as Ronaldo is redeemed and uninspiring France advance | OneFootball

France and Portugal advanced through to the quarter-finals of EURO 2024 after another dramatic day of action.

Here's what went down on Monday.

What happened? 📝

France and Belgium looked to be heading for penalties until a Kolo Muani shot was deflected into the back of the net by Jan Vertonghen with five minutes of normal time remaining. Neither side could muster a good performance in what was a dour match, but France took their place in the quarter-final with that little bit of luck.

A well-organised Slovenia took Portugal to extra-time, and saved a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty, but ultimately succumbed to a shoot out.

Player of the day 🔥

Diogo Costa wasn't called into action much in normal time, but at the end of extra time made an incredible one-on-one save on a Benjamin Šeško shot to take the tie to penalties.

Then, the Porto stopper made not one, not two, but three dramatic saves in the shoot out that ultimately put his side in the quarter-final, and in doing so became the first men's goalkeeper to save three penalties in a shootout at the Euros.

Cometh the hour, cometh the man.

Moment of the day 😍

Say what you like about Cristiano Ronaldo's misses, but the Portuguese forward would likely have ended the tie and sent his team through if it wasn't for Jan Oblak.

Ronaldo didn't strike his spot-kick badly, but the save was truly immense from the Atlético Madrid man.

Photo of the day 📸

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and this one sums up the majority of Cristiano Ronaldo's night for Portugal.

Now way past his brilliant best, the number seven has been an increasingly frustrated figure at this tournament.

Stat of the day 📊

Cristiano Ronaldo tried – and failed – with four free-kick shots against Slovenia.

The number seven has never been particularly prolific from dead-ball situations outside of the box, even in his prime.

But in this tournament, there has become an air of desperation around the Portuguese star, as he increased the number of free kicks taken (60) in relation to those scored (one).

There was surely another member of the Portuguese side that could've had a go at one of these.

What this means 🤔

France head into the quarter-final and will now face Portugal on Friday.

What they said 🗣️

A disappointed Kevin De Bruyne told reporters: "I tried to do everything I could. Today I played in a more defensive position and did everything I could to help the team, although it is a shame that I could not finish my chance. This is not what we wanted, but although we were not one of the favourites, I think we let ourselves down in the match against Slovakia."

And we've not seen the best from Kylian Mbappé yet, but boss Didier Deschamps might have an explanation. "He's getting used to it. He's getting better with it. You've got the sweat aspect and we know sweat can get in his eyes. He's getting used to it, but it can affect his vision. He says it's like he's seeing things in 3D. Everything in front of him is fine, but there's a delay with his peripheral vision. But he'll have to get used to it over the coming weeks or months."

What comes next? ⏭️

The last set of last 16 ties take place on Tuesday, with Romania up against Netherlands and Ralf Rangnick's Austria facing Türkiye.