Sunday 26 June 2016 13:25, UK
Ricardo Quaresma struck a dramatic extra-time winner as Portugal beat Croatia 1-0 to advance to the Euro 2016 quarter-finals.
A dreary encounter in Lens appeared to be heading to penalties until Quaresma headed home from close range after Croatia goalkeeper Danijel Subasic could only parry Cristiano Ronaldo's shot in the 117th minute.
Croatia's Ivan Perisic had hit the post just seconds earlier, but there was no coming back from Quaresma's strike as Fernando Santos' side joined Poland and Wales in the last eight. So can Portugal go all the way? We look at some of the factors in their favour…
Portugal's third-placed finish in Group F was embarrassing but it has worked to their advantage as they have found themselves in the more favourable side of the draw. They face Poland in the quarters, and if they reach the last four they will only have to overcome Wales, Belgium or Hungary for a place in the final.
Had Iceland not scored their late winner against Austria in Group F, Portugal would have faced England in the last 16, with France their likely opponents in the last eight and Italy, Spain and Germany among their possible opponents in the semi-finals.
Cristiano Ronaldo has struggled to find his best form at Euro 2016 and he was anonymous for long periods against Croatia, but the Portugal captain is fresh from a 51-goal season with Real Madrid and he is still a huge influence capable of producing decisive moments on the big stage.
He became the first player to score in four separate European Championships with his brilliant double in Portugal's 3-3 draw with Hungary, and while he struggled to make an impact against Croatia, he was heavily involved in the winning goal as his diagonal shot rebounded into the path of Quaresma. His long-range shooting has left a lot to be desired, but Ronaldo could yet make this tournament his own.
Renato Sanches has provided glimpses of the talent that persuaded Bayern Munich to make him one of the most expensive teenagers in history before the tournament. The 18-year-old replaced Andre Gomes early in the second half against Crotia and provided an immediate injection of energy and purpose.
There were occasional misplaced passes and mistimed tackles, but his muscular, high-intensity style unsettled Ante Cacic's side, and it was no surprise to see him involved in the build-up to the winning goal.
Sanches has had to settle for substitute appearances so far, but after similarly impressive cameos against Iceland and Hungary, it could be time to unleash him from the start.
Portugal were defensively shambolic in their 3-3 draw with Hungary in Group E, but they will take great encouragement from their improvement against Croatia after Fernando Santos wrung the changes. Pepe was the only survivor from their back four, with Jose Fonte, Cedric Soares and the Borussia Dortmund-bound Raphael Guerreiro replacing Ricardo Carvalho, Vieirinha and Eliseu.
The new-look unit coped well with Croatia, who didn't muster a single shot on target despite their impressive group stage performances. Only Germany, England and France have allowed fewer opposition shots per game than Portugal's 8.5 at Euro 2016, and their defensive stinginess could be key in the latter stages of the competition.
Portugal have never won a European Championship but they certainly have tournament pedigree. They have reached the semi-finals in three of the last four instalments, including their Euro 2004 run to the final, where they were famously beaten by Greece.
Their Euro 2012 campaign ended with a penalty shootout defeat by Spain in the semi-finals, and although they are yet to win a game in normal time at this year's tournament, recent history suggests it would be foolish to rule them out.
