Euro 2016 - Ricardo Quaresma the hero as Portugal make last eight
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Updated 25/06/2016 at 23:07 GMT
Stade Bollaert-Delelis, Lens - Euro 2016 last 16: Croatia 0 Portugal 1 (Quaresma, 117)
Portugal's forward Ricardo Quaresma celebrates after scoring during the round of sixteen football match Croatia against Portugal of the Euro 2016 football tournament, on June 25, 2016 at the Bollaert-Delelis stadium in Lens
Image credit: AFP
Ricardo Quaresma grabbed a late winner as Portugal beat Croatia 1-0 after extra time to make the quarter-finals at Euro 2016 after an insipid last 16 clash in Lens.
The first-half was devoid of much action of note with the best chance falling to the head of Pepe but he failed to re-adjust his body and could only nod over the bar as both sides struggled desperately in the attacking third.
Croatia, so impressive last time out against Spain, had the lion’s share of possession but were unable to prise a clear-cut opening from a resolute Portugal defence. Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic suffered disappointing games as the early tournament tips crashed out.
It was much the same for the second-half but the best chance fell to another defender just after the hour mark. However, Domagoj Vida could only glance Darijo Srna’s cross wide of the post, and the game went to extra-time.
With neither side able to assert any authority, it looked as though the game would go to penalties but with 117 minutes on the clock Quaresma followed up Cristiano Ronaldo’s saved effort to slot home and secure their spot in the next round, where they will face Poland.
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Portugal's forward Cristiano Ronaldo (L) celebrates with Portugal's forward Ricardo Quaresma at the end of the Euro 2016 round of sixteen football match Croatia vs Portugal, on June 25, 2016 at the Bollaert-Delelis stadium in Lens
Image credit: AFP
TALKING POINT - Are Portugal Euro 2016’s Greece?
This year’s European Championships are the most open since 2004, when Greece pulled off an almighty shock by lifting the trophy. So could Portugal be this summer’s Greece? They might not be rank outsiders like Otto Rehhangel’s side were, but they have been defensively conservative for the most part and have ground out results, like Greece of 2004 did. They have made the final eight without winning a single match in 90 minutes. The comparisons are there.
MAN OF THE MATCH - Domagoj Vida
With both Croatia and Portugal struggling so badly in the final third an attacker was never likely to take the Man of the Match award. Instead it was a defender - Domagoj Vida - who was the standout performer, with the Croatian coming closer than anyone else to breaking the deadlock in 90 minutes with a couple of headed chances. He kept Cristiano Ronaldo quiet and deserves a lot of the credit for how the Croatian backline performed.
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Portugal's defender Pepe (C) vies with Croatia's defender Domagoj Vida during the round of sixteen football match Croatia against Portugal of the Euro 2016 football tournament, on June 25, 2016 at the Bollaert-Delelis stadium in Lens.
Image credit: AFP
PLAYER RATINGS
Croatia - Subasic 5, Strinic 5, Vida 7, Corluka 5, Srna 5, Modric 5, Badelj 5, Rakitic 5, Brozovic 5, Perisic 6, Mandzukic 5. Subs - Kalinic 5, Pjaca 5.
Portugal - Patricio 5, Raphael 5, Fonte 5, Pepe 6, Cedric 5, Carvalho 5, Gomes 5, Silva 5, Mario 6, Nani 6, Ronaldo 5. Subs - Danilo 5, Renato 7, Quaresma 6.
KEY MOMENTS
24’ GOOD CHANCE FOR PEPE! The Portuguese centre back rises highest to meet a free-kick delivery, but he couldn't get over the cross and could only head over the crossbar.
54’ BROZOVIC OPPORTUNITY! Portugal switched off from the corner kick, allowing Croatia to work the set piece to the near post. But Brozovic blasts over when he should have hit the target.
60’ RENATO SHOT ON GOAL! The teenage midfielder plays a neat little one two on the edge of the box to free up some space, but he drags his effort well wide of the target from 18 yards.
63’ BEST CHANCE OF THE MATCH! Srna whips a wicked free-kick delivery into the box, but Vida takes the ball off the head of Mandzukic to send his own effort wide of the far post.
65’ PORTUGAL SHOUTS FOR A PENALTY! That's a strong case for a spot kick. Strinic kicks Nani as he challenges for the ball inside the box, but the referee waves his head and gives the goal kick.
112’ NANI ATTEMPTS AN OVERHEAD KICK! That was the most exciting thing to have happened in this match in a long time. He tried an overhead kick at the back post but failed to make a connection.
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Portugal's forward Nani (L) heads the ball with Croatia's defender Darijo Srna during the Euro 2016 round of sixteen football match Croatia vs Portugal, on June 25, 2016 at the Bollaert-Delelis stadium in Lens
Image credit: AFP
114’ CROATIA CHANCE! That was the closest we have come to a shot on target. Vida leaped high to meet a cross, with Patricio caught underneath it, but he couldn't find the gaping net.
117’ PERISIC GOT IN BEHIND! The winger found some space in behind the Portuguese backline, but his cross to the back post couldn't quite find Kalinic and the chance is gone.
118’ OFF THE POST! That's the closest we have come to a goal by a million miles. Perisic was at the back post to get on the end of a cross, but his header comes rattling back off the post.
119’ GOAL! Croatia 0 Portugal 1: Surely that will be the winner? Nani's shot finds its way to Ronaldo, who forces a save from Subasic. But Quaresma is on hand to head home from about a yard out.
KEY STATS
Ricardo Quaresma has scored the first goal in extra time at the European Championships since Andrey Arshavin in 2008 (against Netherlands).
Cristiano Ronaldo had just 19 touches in the first half against Croatia and none in the opposition box.
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Portugal's forward Cristiano Ronaldo gestures during the Euro 2016 round of sixteen football match Croatia vs Portugal, on June 25, 2016 at the Bollaert-Delelis stadium in Lens.
Image credit: AFP
Portugal have made the Euro 2016 quarter-finals despite failing to win a single one of their four games in 90 minutes.
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