One showed off big time

Penalty madness at the European Championship: it’s never happened before!

While Portugal celebrated Diogo Costa, the Slovenians were very disappointed.(Bild: AFP/Daniel ROLAND, PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA)

Penalty madness at the EURO: Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa became a hero on Monday evening in the round of 16 clash with Slovenia, saving three penalties. That's never happened before at a European Championship!

What a battle of nerves! After 120 minutes, the last 16 clash between Portugal and Slovenia was 0-0 - it went to a penalty shoot-out. While Slovenia's Josip Ilicic was denied by Diogo Costa, superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who had missed a penalty in the 105th minute, put Portugal ahead. A short time later, Jure Balkovec's nerves also failed him and Costa made another save. Bruno Fernandes did better and made it 2:0 for Portugal.

Costa was also there for Benjamin Verbic's penalty kick, Slovenia's third shooter - unbelievable! A new record - never before had a goalkeeper saved three penalties in a European Championship shoot-out. And never before has a team failed to score in a penalty shoot-out at a European Championship. Bernardo Silva secured victory with his penalty kick - Portugal are through to the quarter-finals, where they now face a tough clash with France!

"Night of dreams"
Afterwards, Costa was duly celebrated. "The night of Diogo Costa's dreams", wrote the newspaper "A Bola". Thanks to his record-breaking performance, Ronaldo and Co. can continue to dream of the title.