The first quarter-final of Euro 2016 between Poland and Portugal went right down to the wire at Marseille, and Cristiano Ronaldo’s side came out on top and progressed through to the semi-final on penalties.
Rui Patricio was the hero on the night for Portugal, as he saved a decisive Jakub Błaszczykowski penalty in the shoot-out to hand Portugal their second consecutive Euro semi-final experience . Błaszczykowski, who was Poland’s driving force en-route to the quarterfinals this tournament, missed his penalty that handed the opportunity to Ricardo Quaresma to take home the honours for Portugal and the 32-year-old duly obliged.
The game began on a fabulous note with Robert Lewandowski scoring the second fastest goal in the competition to give his side an early lead. The Bayern Munich striker broke a seven-game scoreless duck and handed the Polish an opportunity to make it to the final four.
However, Portugal pulled themselves back into the scheme of things through a brilliantly struck effort from Renato Sanches. The new Bayern Munich signing showed great control in switching the ball between his feet, to fire home a left-footed strike that took a deflection off Grzegorz Krychowiak into Fabianski’s goal.
Lewandowski’s finish to give #POL the lead in the 2nd minute is a thing of beauty ? #POLPOR pic.twitter.com/RqCGjfYFEa
— Copa90 (@Copa90) June 30, 2016
Any young strikers out there just watch Lewandowski’s movement off the ball and link up play. It’s exceptional. #POL #POR #EURO2016
— Joseph Barton (@Joey7Barton) June 30, 2016
Robert Lewandowski’s goal was the second fastest goal ever scored at the Euros ? #POLPOR pic.twitter.com/cWYH5tD264
— BreatheSport (@BreatheSport) June 30, 2016
Lewandowski’s goal tonight (100 secs) is the second fastest euro goal ever…
Only Dmitri Kirichenko (Russia v Greece – 67 secs) was quicker.
— Joe Crann (@YesWeCrann) June 30, 2016
When you backed Lewandowski to score first… #POL #POLPOR pic.twitter.com/5Mxr1z9se0
— Ladbrokes (@Ladbrokes) June 30, 2016
Great to see Lewandowski join the party.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) June 30, 2016
Renato Sanches had himself a day in his first #POR start. ? #Euro2016 pic.twitter.com/lFu0jfQUam
— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) June 30, 2016
Renato Sanches v #POL:
94% Passing accuracy
1 Goal
3 Interceptions
2 Tackles
7 Dribbles
Man of the Match pic.twitter.com/3OlktB2kg8— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) June 30, 2016
The goal that set #POR back on track for the #EURO2016 semi-finals! Hats off to Renato Sanches ??? pic.twitter.com/geroBf2C0b
— Copa90 (@Copa90) June 30, 2016
Renato Sanches nerveless, seizing the moment and fearless, taking responsibility. Dynamic over 120 minutes. Then clinical penalty. At 18.
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) June 30, 2016
Renato Sanches’ evening #POR pic.twitter.com/Cvv7dhnD4D
— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) June 30, 2016
For the second time in the knock-out stages, penalties were needed to separate the two sides, and Poland were involved on both occasions. Having beaten Switzerland in the round of 16, the Polish were now tasked with beating Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal to seal their progress through to the semifinals, after the game ended 1-1 at the end of normal and extra time.
However after six (three each) well converted penalties, Błaszczykowski missed his to leave it to Besiktas’s Quaresma, who sealed the deal for the Portuguese, as they now make it to their fourth semi-final in the last five editions of the European Championships.
.@pzpn_pl incredible 120 minutes. That penalty made the difference, but you’re performance will be remembered. Thank you. #Euro2016 #POLPOR
— selecaoportugal (@selecaoportugal) July 1, 2016
The moment #POR made it to the semi final #POLPOR #EURO2016 pic.twitter.com/iOmwJ0RNn3
— Copa90 (@Copa90) June 30, 2016
When Pepe removes the petulant child from his game he truly is a great defender – my MoM tonight #POLPOR
— Joe Morrison (@joefooty) June 30, 2016
The good news for Blaszczykowski is that nobody will remember his name for missing that penalty because nobody can pronounce it ? #POLPOR
— Veronica (@nice_ish) June 30, 2016
When you’re through to the #Euro2016 semi finals without winning a game in 90 minutes#POR #POLPOR pic.twitter.com/2O21ci9tIw
— bwin (@bwin) June 30, 2016
Have to feel for Blaszczykowski. Been great in this tournament but his was the penalty saved. #POLPOR #EURO2016 https://t.co/a6Pkgrf1Ol
— Sport360° (@Sport360) June 30, 2016
Guy who missed Polands penalty saw his mother murdered at ten years old… you have to feel for the guy… #POLPOR
— Zach Komst (@MotleyCheww) June 30, 2016
Well done Portugal, you got through. You’re not very good, I’d say no good, but that’s how these idiotic things go. #POLPOR
— Danny Baker (@prodnose) June 30, 2016
Rui saves Blackamdhdbsidhwski #POLPOR
— M.A.J (@UItraSuristic) June 30, 2016
18 years-old, top corner. Fair play son. #POLPOR
— GRM DAILY (@GRMDAILY) June 30, 2016
Manager Reactions
Portugal : Fernando Santos
Portuguese boss Fernando Santos was a delighted man as he watched his side take the honours in a big quarter-final clash over the Polish. Speaking to the media after an exhausting 120 minutes he said (via UEFA), “As we move further along, we get closer to our goal. We have the drive and ambition and we want to bring great joy to the Portuguese people. Penalties are a lottery but you have to show a lot of character.
“I knew Poland were great at spot kicks because they won on penalties in the last round but I told my players to stay calm because I knew they would score.”
Poland started really well but I had a strategy with William Carvalho, Renato Sanches and Adrien Silva closing their players down. We let them take over the game for a bit and weren’t able to control [Arkadiusz] Milik, so I spoke to Renato Sanches to change things and asked Nani to drop a bit deeper. Thankfully we got the goal through Renato.
“Poland are a very good team, who know how to lull their opponents into a state of rest. But we did well; we played on the front foot and had the better chances, even if Poland had a few as well. We won fair and square against a very good team.”
Poland : Adam Nawałka
The 2012 hosts Poland have been among the surprise packages in the quarter-finals, playing some good football along the way and showing tremendous progress under boss Adam Nawałka. Speaking after the game, Nawalka admitted there was an air of disappointment in the dressing room, especially after they were dumped out due to penalties.
He said, “It’s definitely a tough moment for us. The players put a lot of heart into this match and played bravely throughout the tournament. We haven’t lost a match; we were knocked out on penalties.”
“There will be soon be time for detailed analysis but at the moment this defeat hurts. We’ve moved forward, this tournament has proved that. We were very good in both the group and knockout stages. We’re always trying to improve and that will be the case going into the future.”
“The team works as one. The team spirit was our driving force here. We need to think about what we’ve achieved here and continue to move forward. There’s no need to grieve for too long; it’s just a disappointment. I want to thank all the players for the heart and ambition they showed in all our matches. We can only be happy.”
