PORTUGAL V SLOVENIA LIVE: LATEST SCORE AS TENSE EURO 2024 TIE GOES TO EXTRA TIME

Euro 2024: Portugal v Slovenia

• EXTRA TIME: Portugal 0-0 Slovenia after 90 minutes as Cristiano Ronaldo frustrated
• Miss! Benjamin Sesko squanders huge opportunity (Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 61 minutes)
• HT: Portugal 0-0 Slovenia
• Close! Cristiano Ronaldo whistles a free kick over the crossbar (Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 34 mins)
• KICK OFF!
• Portugal face Slovenia in Frankfurt for a place in a quarter-final against France
• Cristiano Ronaldo leads the Selecao line but doubts remain over whether he still improves this side
• Slovenia are appearing in the knockout stages of a major tournament for the first time

Portugal 0 - 0 Slovenia

PENALTY!

DOWN GOES DIOGO JOTA AND DANIELE ORSATO POINTS TO THE SPOT!

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 102 minutes

Roberto Martinez has still only used two of his substitutes. Goncalo Ramos? Joao Felix? There doesn’t seem to be any movement on the Portugal bench just yet.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 100 minutes

Jaka Bijol takes two hand slaps from Jan Oblak as the goalkeeper thanks his defender for his latest intervention with Cristiano Ronaldo lurking.

A corner. Portugal play it short before Francisco Conceicao stands one up for the far post. Diogo Jota shoulders it goalwards and it’s comfortable for Oblak.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 97 minutes

The Portuguese fans inside Deutsche Bank Park look on with anguished faces. This was not the night they were expecting, but all it takes is one chance.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 95 minutes

Francisco Conceicao’s cross hits the knee of Jon Gorenc Stankovic; Bruno Fernandes’ looping follow-up arcs beyond Jan Oblak’s goal line.

Oblak launches the goal kick beyond halfway, and Benjamin Sesko gets his head to it. Joao Cancelo errs soon after to allow Benjamin Verbic an opportunity to drive at the rest of the defence, and Ruben Dias is forced to block his shot behind.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 93 minutes

Nuno Mendes creates space for himself with a neat nip infield, but his attempted bend around Jaka Bijol isn’t quite curvaceous enough for Cristiano Ronaldo to capitalise.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 91 minutes

Neither manager has made a change ahead of extra time, keeping a couple of cards back for later. Slovenia avoid a Slovakia, lasting the first minute of the additional period without a scare.

Extra time...

The sprinklers are on in Frankfurt as the players make their way back into position, this bobbly surface wetted to try and slicken it up. Will the deadlock be broken or are we going the distance? Extra time is underway!

Extra time! Portugal 0-0 Slovenia

Cristiano Ronaldo’s muscular calves get a rub down as the Portuguese players gather, re-steeling, re-jigging for the additional 30 minutes. Slovenia have been resolute, resilient and courageous — and one goal for either side may well be enough.

FULL TIME: Portugal 0-0 Slovenia

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 90 + 4 minutes

One last chance for Portugal in normal time. Cristiano Ronaldo’s backheel wins a corner off Vanja Drkusic.

In comes the delivery...headed away. Bonus football - we’re off to extra time in Frankfurt!

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 90 + 2 minutes

Porugal win a corner which Bruno Fernandes swings in. Jan Oblak is bravely up above two Portuguese players to ensure there is no danger, earning a foul as he punches.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 90 minutes

Four added minutes with extra time beckoning...

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 89 minutes

Straight at Jan Oblak! It’s not Cristiano Ronaldo’s night, and it may not be his tournament, the striker sprung from an inside left position and clean through on goal. His left-footed effort is a bit toe-pokey, and clumps into the midriff of Slovenia’s captain, who covers it up with his gloves to make certain.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 88 minutes

Up saunter Slovenia’s centre halves to contest a free kick on the right, but Pepe heads away, forcing a swift retreat. Slovenia are back in shape remarkably quickly.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 86 minutes

Francisco Conceicao wags a finger at the referee but Daniele Orsato has got that spot on, the ball ricocheting back into the Portugal substitute’s legs before travelling behind.

Matjaz Kek makes his third change: the experienced Benjamin Verbic should offer more potency on the right wing than Petar Stojanovic, whose work going the other way has been impeccable.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 83 minutes

Jaka Bijol produces his latest crucial clearance, one of countless on the night from the centre half.

Portugal are playing virtually with a front five, right-back Joao Cancelo one of the quintet as they search desperately for a winner.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 80 minutes

Slovenia have defended so, so well. Timi Elsnik has been pushed out to the left of midfield since Jan Mlakar’s removal and appears in a bit of bother as Joao Cancelo gets past him, but the Slovenian battles back to deny Cancelo even a chance to cross.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 77 minutes

Conceicao leaps in vain to try and get his head to the cross with Zan Karnicnik keeping close hold of the newbie. It’s a little risky from the Slovenia right-back, his arms wrapped around the 21-year-old, but there’s not enough in it to prompt an intervention from VAR Massimiliano Irrati, not yet involved tonight.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 76 minutes

Portugal answer with a change of their own. Francisco Conceicao has already popped up with one crucial goal at this tournament and replaces Rafael Leao, who faded after a bright start.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 74 minutes

It just hasn’t happened for Portugal tonight. Joao Cancelo is again the architect of a chance, but he floats his cross too high for the vertically challenged Bernardo Silva.

A double switch for Slovenia. On come Jon Gorenc Stankovic and Zan Celar; off go Jan Mlakar and the ever willing Andraz Sporar, who mkes his last run of the night to the touchline.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 71 minutes

Over the crossbar.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 70 minutes

That will give Portugal a chance, though. Petar Stojanovic catches Nuno Mendes 30 yards out. This might be more to Cristiano Ronaldo’s liking with a bit of extra distance in which to swerve it.

Bernardo Silva is sent away. It will be Ronaldo to strike...

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 69 minutes

Slovenia are looking likelier and likelier to nick one. Portugal just seem to have fatigued a little, taking a pause and allowing their opponents to seize the initiative somewhat.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 68 minutes

Diogo Costa is off his line quickly to help out Pepe, beaten again by the pace of one of Slovenia’s forwards in behind. Andraz Sporar was a yard or two short of getting there.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 65 minutes

Rafael Leao had a really lively first half but has been short of impact in the second so far, swallowed up by Zan Karnicnik here as the right-back forces him out of play.

A first alteration, and it’s Roberto Martinez to act. Diogo Jota replaces Vitinha.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 61 minutes

What a chance for Benjamin Sesko! The striker screams an expletive having burst away from a lumbering Pepe, bearing down on Diogo Costa’s goal. But Sesko just loses the run of the ball as it bobbles on this bumpy surface, allowing the defender to get back and force him slightly off balance. Sesko scuffs a left-footed shot away but it’s some distance off line, with Costa not even having to chance a dive.

Still, it’s an opportunity to further swell Slovenia’s growing belief.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 58 minutes

A superb block from Jaka Bijol, heroically hurling himself in front of Palhinha’s cannonball. No way through!

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 56 minutes

Slovenia are doing so well on the edge of the box. Again Joao Cancelo manufactures an opportunity having made inroads up the right, yet as first Vitinha and then Joao Palhinha ready to release a shot, they are met by an advancing white wall of committed blockers.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 55 minutes

Ronaldo hits the target, stinging the palms of Jan Oblak, whose feet remained fixed with the shot straight at him.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 54 minutes

Joao Cancelo is Portugal’s most vibrant attacking threat so far in the half, the right-back fouled on the edge of the Slovenia box by Adam Gnezda Cerin. The selection committee gather as Portugal try to figure out who will take the free kick; in marches a despotic Cristiano Ronaldo to decide for them.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 52 minutes

Petar Stojanovic and Cristiano Ronaldo have a coming together, each giving the other a bump and a biff. Referee Daniele Orsato restores order before it inflames any further.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 50 minutes

Benjamin Sesko tries to thread Andraz Sporar through, but puts too much mustard on the pass, dragging his strike partner wide and allowing Portugal to regather. It would have mattered not, actually - Sporar had stepped beyond the Portuguese back four too soon and the flag belatedly goes up.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 49 minutes

Some amateur acrobatics from Timi Elsnik, a high kick showing off some impressive flexibility as he contorts his left leg up by his shoulder in an attempt to hook the ball goalwards. Unfortunately, he can’t make quite enough contact.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 47 minutes

Wasteful from Bernardo Silva! Joao Cancelo shimmies and shakes by three Slovenia defenders and his cut back is half-cleared to the Manchester City midfielder. Silva eyes up the top corner but fails to hit the target from just inside the box.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 46 minutes

No half-time changes, if you were wondering.

Pepe toes the ball right into Joao Palhinha’s face, the midfielder rearing back and then asking for an apology, which the veteran defender sheepishly provides. No harm done, either to Palhinha’s schnozz or Portugal with Slovenia unable to capitalise on the miscommunication.

Second half...

They are back out there in Frankfurt. Can Slovenia hold firm for 45 minutes more? Off we go again.

HT: Portugal 0-0 Slovenia

France, of course, await the winner of this Round of 16 encounter - but a win over Belgium answered few of the lingering questions about Didier Deschamps’ men. Miguel Delaney was in Dusseldorf to make sense of it all:

The piece of luck that sent dour France past Belgium and into Euros quarter-finals

HT: Portugal 0-0 Slovenia

A strangely entertaining game so far with the contrasting approaches providing an intriguing battle. Slovenia have defended smartly and strongly plus offered a threat on the counter attack, but Portugal have found ways of opening up a tightly-packed defence at times and will feel disappointed not to have converted one of their chances. Most of them have fallen to Cristiano Ronaldo, who has shown both a lack of sharpness and a degree of petulance as his search for his first goal at Euro 2024 goes on.

HALF TIME: Portugal 0-0 Slovenia

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 45 +2 minutes

Off the post and away! So close for Joao Palhinha with the final kick before the interval, trimming a pleasant path across the grass from 20 yards. It flicks the woodwork and thuds into the advertising hoardings beyond.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 45 minutes

Jaka Bijol wins a near post header from a Slovenia corner, but can’t direct it on target.

Into two added minutes at the end of the half.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 44 minutes

Andraz Sporar wins a header and finds Benjamin Sesko. The red sea of Portuguese shirts parts in front of the striker, urging him to drive for goal. Sesko obliges, but it’s straight at Diogo Costa, dropping to a knee as he accepts it into his bread basket even with a late swerve.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 42 minutes

Jaka Bijol has enjoyed a really strong tournament, the converted defensive midfielder now a centre half colossus. Cristiano Ronaldo has got zero joy out of the left-sided member of Slovenia’s central defensive pairing.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 40 minutes

Slovenia win a corner which Adam Gnezda Cerin trots across to take, surprisingly playing it short. He gets it back but gets the cross all wrong, conceding a throw in some 25 yards further back from where he struck it.

Still, Slovenia will be reasonably pleased with half time approaching.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 38 minutes

That’s a little bit greedy from Cristiano Ronaldo. A Zan Karnicnik handball on the right provides a free kick that looks perfectly placed for a cross into the box, and up the big blokes lumber to challenge for it. Ronaldo, though, selfishly shoots, and slices it wildly away.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 35 minutes

Cristiano Ronaldo is furious. The chances are coming but he just isn’t quite converting them, his latest leap mistimed and nary any contact made on a floating cross ripe for picking. A cry to the skies and a scream at himself with Portugal still frustrated.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 34 minutes

Over the crossbar! So close yet so far for Ronaldo, coming absolutely cantering on to the set piece and sending it sizzling to Jan Oblak’s side. The Slovenia keeper throws up a hand but is beaten; so, fortunately for Oblak, is his crossbar.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 32 minutes

Now then. Vanja Drkusic lunges in on Rafael Leao just outside the Slovenia area. Referee Daniele Orsato goes to his pocket for a yellow card as Cristiano Ronaldo sets his sights...

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 31 minutes

A quite magnificent pass from Nuno Mendes so nearly gives Bruno Fernandes a real chance, but the midfielder can’t quite get to grips with a dynamite diagonal, pulling it down though unable to shoot before Jaka Bijol steps in.

Portugal reload and Cristiano Ronaldo is granted a ball to attack. He beats Vanja Drkusic on this occasion, but a flick off the defender’s head makes the save simple for Jan Oblak.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 28 minutes

This pitch is really cutting up, causing several players issues with their footing. Bruno Fernandes slips on the edge of the Slovenia box, though does manage to force a corner from the floor. It’s a poor ball in from Bernardo Silva, failing to beat the first man.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 27 minutes

Vanja Drkusic is doing a good job guarding the skies, too. He again beats Cristiano Ronaldo in the air despite a slightly awkward looking leap.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 24 minutes

Bruno Fernandes is being tracked diligently by Timi Elsnik, the midfielder communicating really effectively with his back four to pass Fernandes off when required. Slovenia seem to have found solidity in their structure again after that bright Portuguese spell a little earlier.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 22 minutes

In Andraz Sporar and Benjamin Sesko, Slovenia do possess two dangerous channel runners, though those behind aren’t quite getting their forward lofts right. A first attempt to free one of the strikers bounces all the way through to Diogo Costa, while a second is rather elegantly pulled down by Nuno Mendes having not quite been flighted enough.

Mendes is down again, though, this time tender in the hip area by the looks of things. No treatment required, but the left-back is rather in the wars.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 19 minutes

A potentially sore one for Nuno Mendes, getting his ankle trapped beneath a sliding Peter Stojanovic as the Slovenia right midfielder takes the ball away. It appears that the full-back has escaped injury, though there’s a bit of a hobble as he trudges to the touchline.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 18 minutes

A predictable pattern to the game, with Portugal dominating the ball and Slovenia trying to spring on the counter. Andraz Sporar is furious when a high boot from Vitinha is waved in the general vicinity of his forehead, but there’s no brush of studs on the Slovenia striker, whose theatrics are thus thoroughly uncalled for. Daniele Orsato tells him as much.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 16 minutes

Cristiano Ronaldo hits the floor inside the Slovenia box, but Vanja Drkusic has got his defending spot on, enough of a nudge to knock the striker off balance as they contest in the air but not enough to prompt sanction from the referee.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 15 minutes

Petar Stojanovic has played most of his club football at right-back in recent years, and that defensive acumen will be required tonight. He helps out Zan Karnicnik against Rafael Leao’s tricky feet, making a timely tackle.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 13 minutes

Vitinha extricates himself from a huddle of three Slovenia shirts, keeping the momentum flowing. Bernardo Silva is used on the right and cuts in on his right boot, bending it towards the far post and between both Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes. Each of them fails to find a telling touch - but Portugal are pushing closer and closer.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 11 minutes

Roberto Martinez gesticulates with his side, directing traffic on the touchline with Nuno Mendes and Rafael Leao taking on instructions. Joao Cancelo on the other flank is tucking in at times to try and create extra passing feet in midfield as Portugal begin to zip it about with real poise.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 8 minutes

A rare poor touch in front of goal from Cristiano Ronaldo. Portugal inject tempo for the first time and Rafael Leao’s cute pass appears to have teed up the veteran striker. A heavy touch takes him too close to the retreating defence, and Jan Oblak is, in the end, not troubled by a shot with Ronaldo squeezed out.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 7 minutes

Vanja Drkusic pushes up on to Bruno Fernandes, though clips the Manchester United midfielder’s heels as he tries to force a tackle. Portugal are thus able to load the box, but Vitinha overcooks his delivery and Pepe is unable to hook it back into play.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 5 minutes

Fired wide by Ruben Dias! The corner comes all the way through to the centre half at the back stick, but a nasty kick off this sometime problematic Frankfurt surface sends the ball off its predicted path. Dias’ left-footed swing at it thus sends it several yards wide.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 3 minutes

A bouncing ball is hacked forward by Nuno Mendes, and the left-back keeps on rumbling, haring after his own touch. The next one is untidier still, and Jan Oblak claims in comfort.

That’s more purposeful from Portugal, though, Bruno Fernandes producing a whipped delivery that Zan Karnicnik turns behind with Rafael Leao in close attention.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 2 minutes

Benjamin Sesko barges into the back of Joao Palhinha, sending the midfielder thudding into the deck. Portugal find their passing flow for the first time, but Slovenia monitor their movements sharply.

Portugal 0-0 Slovenia, 1 minute

Nothing obviously unexpected from either side as they feel their way into the contest, Slovenia settling in their 4-4-2, Portugal with Cristiano Ronaldo leading the line and Bruno Fernandes in behind.

KICK OFF!

Referee Daniele Orsato brings the whistle to his lips and we are underway in Frankfurt!

Portugal vs Slovenia

Righty ho, here we go. Extra time and penalties are (of course) available if required, though you fancy this might be done in 90 minutes.

Portugal vs Slovenia

Out the players come, Cristiano Ronaldo practicing a spring or two as he gets some energy into his legs. He and Pepe flank goalkeeper Diogo Costa at the end of the Portuguese line as the pair sing the national anthem for the 211th and 140th time respectively.

Slovenia, remember, are making their first apperance in the knockout stages of a major competition. Can they cause a shock?

Portugal vs Slovenia

Kick off rapidly approaching in Frankfurt. It’s an Italian officiating team tonight led by referee Daniele Orsato, who will have VAR Massimiliano Irrati in his ear if required.

Portugal vs Slovenia

It’s little surprise to see Portugal return to a back four, their defensive line looking slightly shaky both against the Czech Republic and Georgia when Roberto Martinez utilised three centre halves. You would expect them to dominate possession throughout tonight, and use those midfield lockpickers to try and work through Slovenia’s low block.

Portugal vs Slovenia

So France await the winner of tonight’s tie, a Frenchman still yet to score from open play at the tournament but Didier Deschamps’ side just about crawling on.

Portugal are big favourites, but that friendly win earlier in the year will give Slovenia belief. They’ve looked well organised so far at Euro 2024, while Benjamin Sesko is yet to produce the magic moments he is capable of. Is tonight the night the striker makes his mark?

More from Slovenia manager Matjaz Kek:

“I just hope the boys remain relaxed and focused. We know who we are up against. Portugal are one of the favourites to win this European Championship.

“But we want a good result and do not care too much about how we look on the pitch. I expect we will ‘suffer’ in certain moments. As it stands now, everybody is in contention for this match.”

The Cristiano Ronaldo circus provokes a serious question over Portugal’s Euro 2024 hopes

As one man took centre stage in a circus, a properly serious team got on with the business of convincingly winning football matches around him. Is this to be the story of Portugal at Euro 2024?

Perhaps it really is the sign of a new team that, as a goal stood at Cristiano Ronaldo’s mercy, he shockingly passed for another player to score. It wasn’t the only moment where he threw back the years. There was also the moment when he beat a defender with a step-over to cross, something he hasn’t actually done in maybe a decade.

For all that, such contributions were largely at the fringes of a game, which was already won by the Selecao’s more influential modern players, though there is no doubting the main event of Roberto Martinez’s side.

The Ronaldo circus provokes a serious question over Portugal’s Euro 2024 hopes

Roberto Martinez on Georgia defeat and facing Slovenia

Portugal coach Roberto Martínez spoke about his team’s desired reaction to the Georgia loss and what he is expecting from the round of 16 clash with Slovenia.

He said: “[The Georgia game] gives an image that doesn’t reflect what we want to do, but the reality is that we need to put it into context. We finished top of the group and had two wins, and many good things.

“Everybody can help the team, so we hope we can start well and react the way our fans deserve.

“I think everyone in the world of football knows what Slovenia did in the three games. We know them well from the game in March and it was no surprise for us to see why they had a clean sheet against England.

“They have a proper organisation of a club, they don’t play as a national team, so this is huge credit to the work of the coach. We all know the individual quality they have, the capacity to create a lot in quick attacks. They are a very complete team, so we have to be at our best.”

Pre-match thoughts from Slovenia coach Matjaz Kek:

He said: “We have earned the right to be likeable. We can praise each other in the press conference, but the match will be different.

“Finally Slovenia is witnessing football euphoria. Fans here in Germany and back home are cheering for us. I don’t need to protect the players from it – every match fills them with energy.

“I see Portugal as one of the favourites to win the tournament. We aren’t the favourite against them, but we’re glad to be able to compete in this Euro.”

The young stars are out at Euro 2024 as football’s next era arrives

When Julian Nagelsmann sat down with Jamal Musiala on becoming Germany manager, he repeated a piece of advice he gave to the playmaker when they were together at Bayern Munich.

That was to just keep playing as if he’s back on a small pitch having fun. Musiala’s age means that was just a few years ago, and it makes the words all the more striking, given he’s now effortlessly illuminating the greatest stage in European football.

Zinedine Zidane didn’t get this before dominating Euro 2000, when he was 28. Despite that gap, Musiala is being seen in similar terms to the French great then, at least as far as an individual European Championships goes. That is as the potential player of the tournament.

The young stars are out at Euro 2024 as football’s next era arrives

Team news - Slovenia

Slovenia make their first alteration of the tournament: Erik Janza is suspended, so Jure Balkovec is brought in at left-back.

Slovenia XI: Oblak; Karnicnik, Drkusic, Bijol, Balkovec; Stojanovic, Elsnik, Gnezda Cerin, Mlakar; Sesko, Sporar.

Team news - Portugal

Rafael Leao returns from suspension to join Cristiano Ronaldo in Portugal’s forward line, with plenty of creativity in behind the pair in midfield.

Portugal XI: Costa; Joao Cancelo, Dias, Pepe, Nuno Mendes; Vitinha, Joao Palhinha; Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Leao; Ronaldo.

Portugal v Slovenia

Cristiano Ronaldo is without a goal in seven major tournament appearances for Portugal, despite attempting 19 shots in this run – his longest such drought.

Georgia defeat keeps Portugal ‘on their toes’

Portuguese midfielder Bruno Fernandes said that defeat to Georgia has put Portugal "on their toes" for the game against Slovenia in the last-16 this evening.

“We don’t have a lot of time to think about what was. We have to think about what’s going to be," Fernandes said, "We respect every opponent.

“This [Slovenia] team has very relevant names, high-quality players - we respect them greatly. After the negative results, people tend to focus on the negative aspects, but this is how football works."

Portugal v Slovenia

Portugal won Group F despite losing 2-0 to Georgia in their final group game after boss Roberto Martinez made a whole heap of changes.

They have reached at least the quarter-finals in five of their last six European Championships, including winning the tournament in 2016.

But, Slovenia won 2-0 when the sides met in a friendly in March, ending a run of 11 Portugal victories in a row.

Gareth Southgate’s straitjacket suffocates England again – but one lesson emerges

There was a minute left to run on Gareth Southgate’s reign, the clock ticking down on a dismal tournament that seemed a demoralising end to the second-finest tenure of any England manager.

Until an airborne Jude Bellingham intervened.

Until Bellingham underlined that he has that combination of talent, technique and temperament to offer the promise of greatness. There had been reasons for Southgate to replace him: booked for a rash lunge at Lukas Haraslin, he had been unwise enough to lay his hands on the referee. He had endured a poor game.

Gareth Southgate’s straitjacket suffocates England again – but one lesson emerges

Southgate on how to improve England’s performances

“You build on the spirit that they’ve shown, the belief that they’ll have gained from that,” Gareth Southgate said following England’s 2-1 victory over Slovakia.

“Equally, we’re not naive. We’re going to play a team [Switzerland] that have looked outstanding, not just in this tournament but for quite a while as well. That’s going to be a big tactical challenge for us.

“We know that the level of our game will need to be higher, but there was a spirit and there was a togetherness that has been building.

“We’ve had a lot of problems to solve through this whole lead into the camp, through the tournament. We’re putting a plaster over different things and giving young players opportunities. We’re somehow finding a way.

“I can imagine how everybody is going to react to that, even though we’ve won. But we’re still in there and the one thing that can’t be questioned is the desire, the commitment, the character.”

Switzerland will pose ‘big tactical challenge’ for England – Gareth Southgate

Gareth Southgate knows stumbling but spirited England have to raise their game if they are to stand a chance of beating “outstanding” Switzerland in Saturday’s Euro 2024 quarter-final.

A trip to Dusseldorf awaits after Jude Bellingham came to the rescue with a 95th-minute overhead equaliser against wily Slovakia on Sunday before Harry Kane sealed a 2-1 extra-time win.

England were seconds away from their tournament coming to an end in humiliating fashion, only to squeak through to a fourth successive major quarter-final under Southgate.

Switzerland will pose ‘big tactical challenge’ for England – Gareth Southgate

How Southgate hopes the lessons of 1966 can inspire success at Euro 2024

It was thirty years of hurt when Gareth Southgate stepped up and missed a penalty and it was about to become at least 60 until Jude Bellingham attempted an overhead kick. Southgate makes no secret of his ambitions to emulate Sir Alf Ramsey, to double the number of trophy-winning managers in England’s history.

He looks to the past to provide inspiration and lessons alike. If 1966 has become a profitable nostalgia industry, it is so long ago that many of the England players’ parents were not born. They could be forgiven for not knowing all the details.

At St George’s Park, before England ventured to Germany, Southgate turned back time. “We showed the players a presentation about 1966 and how Geoff Hurst hadn’t played until the quarter-final.”

Hurst ended up the hat-trick hero in the final and if that scarcely needs explaining, some of Southgate’s charges may not know that a man who achieved immortality had entered the 1966 World Cup with a lone international goal to his name.

How Southgate hopes the lessons of 1966 can inspire success at Euro 2024

Jude Bellingham faces possible ban over gesture to crowd during England’s Euro 2024 win

Jude Bellingham faces a possible ban at Euro 2024 after Uefa opened an investigation into a gesture he made while celebrating the spectacular overhead kick scored against Slovakia in their last-16 tie on Sunday.

Bellingham equalised in the 96th minute to save England from a humiliating defeat, and they eventually prevailed in extra time to book a quarter-final with Switzerland.

In the aftermath of his goal, Bellingham was seen shouting “Who else?!” as he ran over to England fans after scoring. Video showed the Real Madrid forward then kiss his hand and grab his crotch in a gesture which appeared to be directed towards the side of the pitch.

Jude Bellingham faces possible ban over gesture to crowd in England’s Euro 2024 win

Portugal v Slovenia

Slovenia and Denmark became the second and third nations to draw all three of their group stage matches at a European Championship.

The first team to do so were Portugal on their way to winning Euro 2016.

Portugal v Slovenia

Portugal have qualified from the group stage in all nine of their Euro campaigns.

More from Adam Gnezda Cerin

"We are prepared for Portugal," said Gnezda Cerin, "They’re a very, very talented team and they can cause you problems all around the pitch."

Slovenia not satisfied after reaching last-16

Midfielder Adam Gnezda Cerin says Slovenia are not satisfied with reaching the last 16 at Euro 2024 and hopes the team progress further into the competition as they face Portugal tonight.

A goalless draw against England in their final group game sent Slovenia through as one of the four best third-placed teams in what is the first time they have reached the knockout phase of a major competition.

"It is a new milestone for the Slovenian national team, for Slovenia in general," said Gnezda Cerin when previewing the game versus Portugal.

"We have our goals and I think the match will be a beautiful evening for everyone to enjoy because these matches are something you dream about as a kid who starts playing football.

"We are not done. We will try to play to the match at the highest possible level."

Pitch invaders, lookalikes and a steward’s slide tackle: Ninety minutes in the presence of Cristiano Ronaldo

If it had been thought that the cult of Cristiano Ronaldo was diminishing, you only had to listen to the man who is notionally supposed to be his superior.

Portugal manager Roberto Martinez was asked about Bruno Fernandes’ goal in the 56th minute against Turkey, which to most people looking on would have just been a striker squaring to his teammate for an easy finish; think Brian McClair to Paul Ince in the 1994 FA Cup final.

The only notable thing about it was that someone as intensely obsessed with his own scoring record as Cristiano Ronaldo had actually passed the ball, but that kind of surprise wasn’t really the emotion that Martinez was conveying. He was going for more.

Pitch invaders, lookalikes and a slide tackle: 90 minutes with Cristiano Ronaldo

Portugal v Slovenia TV channel, start time and how to watch Euro 2024 fixture online tonight

Portugal and Slovenia battle for a place in the last eight as the two sides meet in Frankfurt at Euro 2024.

With wins over the Czech Republic and Turkey already enough to secure progression to the Round of 16, Roberto Martinez rested a number of his key players against Georgia.

A shock defeat in their final group game has threatened to stall Portugal’s momentum, though, and Slovenia will look to take advantage.

Three draws were enough for Matjaz Kek’s side to advance out of a nip-and-tuck Group C and progress to the knockout rounds of a major tournament for the first time.

Portugal v Slovenia TV channel, start time and how to watch Euro 2024 fixture online

Portugal v Slovenia team news and predicted line-ups

Team news

Roberto Martinez is likely to bring back those rested against Georgia, with Rafael Leao back available after serving a one-match suspension.

Slovenia have used the same line-up in every match so far, but that run will end here with Erik Janza having picked up a second yellow card of the tournament against England. The left-back is thus banned, with Jure Balkovec likely to deputise.

Predicted line-ups

Portugal XI: Costa; Cancelo, Pepe, Dias, Mendes; Vitinha, Palhinha; Silva, Fernandes, Leao; Ronaldo.

Slovenia XI: Oblak; Karnicnik, Drkusic, Bijol, Balkovec; Stojanovic, Elsnik, Gnezda Cerin, Mlakar; Sesko, Sporar.

The Cristiano Ronaldo circus provokes a serious question over Portugal’s Euro 2024 hopes

As one man took centre stage in a circus, a properly serious team got on with the business of convincingly winning football matches around him. Is this to be the story of Portugal at Euro 2024?

Perhaps it really is the sign of a new team that, as a goal stood at Cristiano Ronaldo’s mercy, he shockingly passed for another player to score. It wasn’t the only moment where he threw back the years. There was also the moment when he beat a defender with a step-over to cross, something he hasn’t actually done in maybe a decade.

For all that, such contributions were largely at the fringes of a game, which was already won by the Selecao’s more influential modern players, though there is no doubting the main event of Roberto Martinez’s side.

The Ronaldo circus provokes a serious question over Portugal’s Euro 2024 hopes

Portugal v Slovenia

Good evening and welcome to The Independent’s coverage of tonight’s Euro 2024 action as the round of 16 continues.

England pulled off the great escape on Sunday beating Slovakia 2-1 after extra time thanks to late goal heroics from Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane. In Sunday’s late kick off Spain recovered from going behind versus Georgia to eventually run out 4-1 winners and join Germany, Switzerland and the Three Lions in the last eight.

Today in the last-16, France are vying with Belgium with that match just kicking off now before Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal see if they can overcome Slovenia.

We’ll have all the team news, build-up and more ahead of the 8pm kick off so stick with us.