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The 'game of my life', says Portugal Euros penalty hero Costa / Photo: © AFP
The 'game of my life', says Portugal Euros penalty hero Costa
Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa said he had the best game of his life against Slovenia on Monday as he saved three penalties to send his team into the Euro 2024 quarter-finals.
After a goalless draw over 120 minutes of the last 16 clash in Frankfurt, Porto goalkeeper Costa produced three saves to thwart Slovenia's three takers as his team claimed a 3-0 shoot-out win.
Cristiano Ronaldo, who missed a penalty in extra-time, converted in the shoot-out along with Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva for Portugal, who face France on Friday in the last eight.
The 24-year-old shotstopper also made a crucial one-on-one save with his foot in the second period of extra-time when Slovenia's Benjamin Sesko bore down on his goal following a defensive error.
"I think this is probably the best game of my life, maybe the game I was most useful in," Costa told reporters.
"I just went with my gut, of course we analysed the shooters, but players change their minds, and they change the way they shoot.
"I had to go with my gut, that's what I felt. I am very, very happy, and I am very excited to help the team."
Costa said he was pleased Ronaldo dusted himself down and scored after his 105th-minute penalty miss that left the superstar striker in tears.
"We all felt we needed to keep believing -- myself and Cristiano, everybody makes mistakes, but the most important thing is what we do after these mistakes," added Costa.
"We need to believe in ourselves and that's what we did. And now we're all very happy and all friends."
A. Walsh--BTZ
