Portugal managed to scrape through to the semi-finals of the UEFA Euro 2016 after defeating Poland in the penalty shoot-out. The 90 minutes ended with both the teams level on 1-1, Lewandowski scoring in the 2nd minute for the Polish and Renato Sanches equalising for the Portuguese in the 33rd minute.
The scores were level even after extra time and eventually the Cristiano Ronaldo-led team prevailed in the penalties as Rui Patricio saved Jakub Blaszczykowski’s shot and Ricardo Quaresma then scored for Portugal to give his team a 5-3 win in the shoot-outs.
Surprisingly, Portugal have reached the last four of the football tournament without winning any of their matches in regulation time. On the other hand, Poland saw the high of winning a penalty shootout in the round-of-16 and then the low of losing in a shoot-out in the very next round.
The match was another dull affair like most of Portugal’s matches have been in the tournament. Cristiano Ronaldo yet again failed to weave his magic and here’s how, he, along with other players, fared in the match.
Poland
Lukasz Fabianski – 6/10
The goalkeeper was unlucky to concede the first goal where Renato Sanches’ shot was deflected by one of his own defenders and made it very difficult for him to save it. He did not have much to do in the match as 9 of Portugal’s 19 attempts were blocked and only 5 of them were on target. However, he failed to save a Portuguese penalty in the shoot-out.
Lukasz Piszczek – 7/10
The Dortmund right-back was one of the better performers on the night. Full of running, Piszczek did brilliantly when his team were on the charge and sent in some delicious crosses. His defensive work-rate was good enough as well.
Kamil Glik – 8/10
Glik was one of the two central defenders who stood like a wall for their team in the match. He did not allow Ronaldo and Nani much breathing space and managed to keep them quiet for majority of the match. He converted his penalty in the shoot-out as well.
Michal Pazdan – 6.5/10
Pazdan partnered up well with his partner but he did make a couple of mistakes here and there, which luckily for him did not prove costly. He was lucky not to give away a penalty after he appeared to push Ronaldo inside the box.
Artur Jedrzejczyk – 6.5/10
The left-back had some problems initially but later on he made some good tackles and showed the willingness to go forward as well.
Jakub Blaszczykowski – 5/10
Kuba failed to replicate his performances from the last two matches. He was not able to create substantial chances and his spot-kick in the shoot-out was saved by Rui Patricio. However, later on, he did some commendable job going back and providing cover to his full-back.
Grzegorz Krychowiak – 7/10
Krychowiak gave a stellar performance as he dominated the midfield and tirelessly ran for the whole duration of 120 minutes. His passes were pinpoint and he protected the back line brilliantly.
Krzysztof Maczynski – 6.5/10
The midfielder did all he can to shield his back four and ensure they do not concede another goal. He was the one who helped calm things down whenever Portugal appeared to get a hold on the match.
Kamil Grosicki – 6.5/10
Grosocki started the match brilliantly and assisted Lewandowski for the first goal. He faded as the match progressed and was subsequently taken off for Kapustka in the 82nd minute.
Arkadiusz Milik – 6/10
Milik thrived on the movements of Lewandowski and more often than not, got into the right areas. However, his finishing let him down as he went close to scoring on a couple of occasions but failed to capitalise. Milik converted his spot-kick in the shoot-out.
Robert Lewandowski – 7/10
Lewandowski finally opened his account in the Euro 2016 as he scored in the 2nd minute of the match itself with a brilliant finish. He showed the willingness to fall back and help in building up the game as well. His took a confident penalty in the shoot-out.
Substitutes
Bartosz Kapustka – 6/10
Kaputska was brought on for Grosicki in the 82nd minute. He made some darting runs down the left side but failed to help his team get that all-important goal.
Tomasz Jodlowiec – 5/10
Jodlowiec came in the 98th minute for Maczynski and kept his cool to ensure he does not give the possession away as Portugal were pressing high late in the match.
Portugal
Rui Patrício – 7/10
Patricio must be happy with his performance in this crucial tie. Though he saved everything that came his way in the match after the first goal, his handling was still a bit shaky. However, he made the all-important save in the shoot-out off Blaszczykowski’s shot.
Cédric Soares – 6.5/10
Cedric had a sort of stop-start match. While he was responsible for letting Grosicki send in the cross for Poland’s goal, he grew in stature slowly and did brilliantly going forward. He improved defensively as well with the progression of the match.
Pepe – 8.5/10
The Real Madrid defender was undoubtedly the best player on the pitch. He made some crunching tackles and blocks at crucial junctures and put in a commendable show.
Jose Fonte – 7/10
The Southampton defender partnered up well with Pepe and kept Milik at bay for majority of the match. He was good in the air as well.
Eliseu – 6.5/10
Eliseu offered little going forward but did well to keep Blaszczykowski quiet all night.
Joao Mario – 6/10
Mario lacked composure and often seemed confused after getting into good positions. He was taken off for Quaresma in the 80th minute.
Adrien Silva – 5.5/10
Silva gave a decent performance against Croatia in the last-16 but was not able to produce something of the same calibre in the match. After picking up a yellow card, he was taken off for Joao Moutinho in the 74th minute.
William Carvalho – 7/10
Carvalho had a more than decent outing, he was good on the ball and more often than not came out on top in 50-50 situations. He ran his heart out and was ultimately taken off in the extra time for Danilo.
Renato Sanches – 7.5/10
The Bayern Munich youngster impressed yet again with the combination of strength and flair that he has. He scored the equaliser for Portugal after playing a sublime one-two with Nani. His penalty in the shoot-out was a confident one as well. Sanches was the one who started most of the attacks for Portugal, however, he was guilty of giving away the possession on a couple of occasions.
Nani – 6.5/10
Nani helped Renato Sanches score his first goal for Portugal as his brilliant one-touch back-heel found the youngster who finished the move off. However, the former Manchester United player was not able to trouble the Polish defence much after that. He converted his penalty in the shootout.
Cristiano Ronaldo – 3.5/10
The Real Madrid superstar had a horrid time out in the middle. Surprisingly, he failed to even get his foot on the ball on a couple of occasions, when all it needed was a touch to score the goal. In the dying stages of the second half, a Moutinho’s lob found him one on one with Fabianski, but the 31-year-old failed to even get a touch on the ball.
He wasted a lot of chances and often misplaced his passes as well. Though he converted his penalty and now finds himself in the Euro semi-final, he will definitely want to improve on the level of performances he has been churning out in the tournament.
Substitutes
Joao Moutinho – 6.5/10
Moutinho came on in the 74th minute and helped create some chances but his forwards failed to convert them. He calmly slotted his penalty in the shoot-out.
Ricardo Quaresma – 6.5/10
Coming on in the 80th minute, Quaresma provided some much-needed width to his team and also kept his cool to score the winning penalty.
Danilo Pereira – 5/10
Danilo came on in the 96th minute and did not have much to do in the match.
