Roberto Martinez praised Diogo Costa as “Europe’s best-kept secret” following Portugal’s penalty shootout win against Slovenia at Euro 2024.
Costa emerged as Portugal’s hero in the last-16 match on Monday night, making history as the first goalkeeper to save three penalties in a Euro shootout.
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Additionally, the Porto goalkeeper made a crucial one-on-one save, preventing Benjamin Sesko from scoring for Slovenia in the final minutes of extra time.
Speaking after his team’s win on penalties, Portugal manager Martinez said: ‘I think Portugal’s secret is Diogo Costa. Diogo Costa is the most hidden secret in European football and today he showed up.
‘Today I think he reached a completely different level. The one-on-one situation was incredible. Then he had the focus to make three consecutive saves. We have to be very proud of him.’
Martinez also praised Cristiano Ronaldo’s bravery, noting that he was brought to tears after Jan Oblak saved his penalty in the first half of extra time.
At 39 years old, Ronaldo then took the responsibility as Portugal’s first shooter in the penalty shootout and successfully scored by placing his shot into the opposite corner.
‘He [Ronaldo] doesn’t need to care that much and that’s why I thank him for being the way he is, for caring for the group … I was certain he had to be the first penalty taker and show us the way to the victory,’ Martinez said.
‘I think we all felt very proud of our captain. The dressing room was delighted with what he’s doing. I think he gave us all a lesson, that you need to live every day as if it’s the last one.
‘You need to have real high standards and never give up – life and football gives you difficult moments, and the way he reacted is a real example that we are very proud of in Portuguese football.’
Portugal will now play France, who beat Belgium 1-0 in their last-16 game on Monday, in their quarter-final tie on Friday at 8pm.
‘We don’t want days off, we want to be here, now we’re focused and focused on France, this Euros is red-hot, and three days is enough to get ready for the next game,’ Martinez said.
‘France are very strong and things tend to get harder defensively, but in the attack maybe there’s more space behind the lines. So this is a stronger opponent and they can cause more issues, but it’s a better opponent because you’ll have more chances.’
