This Monday, Portugal qualified for the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 by beating Slovenia 3-0 in a penalty shootout in the “round of 16”, securing their eighth presence in the “top 8” in nine matches in the final stages.
After being eliminated in the last 16 of the 2020 edition of the 2021 edition due to the Covid-19 pandemic, in the face of a 1-0 defeat to Belgium, the ‘quinas’ formation was cemented in Frankfurt thanks to three saves from Diogo Costa to restore a draw and another in extra time, a record in his first seven matches.
Portugal failed to make the top eight for the first time in the final stage, where they defended the title they won in 2016 in France, winning 1-0 after extra time in the final against the hosts, decided by Eder in the 109th minute.
In addition to the 2016 title, Portugal, who have never reached the group stage, were finalists in 2004, at “their” European Championship, semi-finalists in 1984, on their debut, in 2000 and in 2012, and reached the quarter-finals in 1996 and 2008.
In 1984, in their debut match, Portugal immediately entered the “top eight” thanks to the qualification, and in the final phase of the eight in France, where the “quinas” team skipped from the group stage straight to the “semi-finals”, where after extra time they lost to the hosts with a score of 3-2.
After an absence in 1988 and 1992, Portugal returned in 1996, already in the final 16, jumping from the group stage to the quarter-finals, a stage in which they lost 1-0 to the Czech Republic thanks to ‘hat’ Karel Poborsky.
In 2000, Portugal advanced to the group stage after two games (3–2 against England and 1–0 against Romania), then beat Germany 3–0, defeated Turkey in the quarters (2–0) and lost again to France at half-time, again in extra time, this time 2–1, after a “golden goal” by Zinedine Zidane.
At Euro 2004, held on Portuguese soil, the Quinas formation survived the group stage thanks to a 1-0 win over Spain and a goal from Nuno Gomes, then beat England and the Netherlands and, unfortunately, “disappeared” in the final against Greece (0-1).
Four years later, in 2008, two early wins over Turkey and the Czech Republic soon cost Portugal the quarters, where they failed to beat Germany, winning 3-2.
In 2012, Portugal also reached the ‘top eight’, reaching the group stage before beating the Czech Republic in the ‘quarters’ and going on to reach the ‘half’ against then European and World Champions Spain on penalties after 120 goalless minutes.
The title was won in 2016, when Portugal survived three group stage draws against Iceland, Austria and Hungary, as well as extra time against Croatia (1-0), to secure a ‘best 8’ spot in the first 24-elect final stage.
Then Fernando Santos’ eleven beat Poland on penalties in the quarter-finals, secured their only 90-minute victory over Wales in the semi-finals, and beat hosts France in the final, even without Cristiano Ronaldo.
In the 2020 edition, Portugal also made it past the group stage, but in the 24-team second stage, they failed to reach the “top 8” for the first time, losing 1–0 to Belgium in the round of 16 match at the end.
In 2024, the Kinas team once again “decided” the group stage in two games, then suffered an unexpected defeat against Georgia (0-2), and this Monday against Slovenia in the first elimination game, penalties were needed to reach the tournament table. “top 8”.
Portugal will face France in the quarter-final match scheduled for Friday in Hamburg, which kicks off at 21:00 local time (20:00 in Lisbon).
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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