As the game reached its 120th minute, it was clear that Portugal and Slovenia’s Euro 2024 last-16 clash would end with one team sprinting towards their goalkeeper, arms raised in celebration of his heroics.
And surely it was going to be the goalkeeper who had already saved one penalty and stood as his team’s final line of defense in a resilient yet intelligent and skillful rearguard action. It had to be Jan Oblak, Slovenia’s captain and seven-time player of the year, right?
After all, the 31-year-old had saved two spot-kicks just three and a half months ago, helping his club Atletico Madrid beat Inter Milan in a Champions League last-16 shootout—his third win on penalties in that competition for the La Liga side.
However, winning the toss so Slovenia could take the first shot in a shootout for a place in the European Championship’s quarter-finals was the last decision Oblak got right.
His opposite number, Diogo Costa, on the other hand, went left to stop Josip Ilicic’s first effort, then right and right again to thwart Jure Balkovec and Benjamin Verbic.
Who won Euro 2020?
Italy
Oblak, meanwhile, couldn’t get close to penalties from Cristiano Ronaldo, who went left after going right 20 minutes earlier, Bruno Fernandes, and Bernardo Silva. After two hours of watching Oblak and his back four repel everything thrown at them, Portugal were the ones racing towards their goalkeeper, with Costa emerging as the hero.
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A Night to Remember For Diogo Costa
“Yes, it was probably the best game of my life — it was definitely the one where I was most useful to my team,” said the 24-year-old Porto goalkeeper when reporters asked him to evaluate his performance in Frankfurt on Monday during the post-match media conference.
No one had ever saved three consecutive penalties in a European Championship before, just as no one had ever kept a clean sheet in a shootout at the Euros.
When asked if he knew which way Slovenia’s penalty-takers would shoot, he replied, “No, we analyzed the penalty-takers, of course, but players get substituted, and they also change their shooting style. I went with my gut.”
“The important thing is the work you put in and then trusting yourself. I believe in the hard work I do. Work, work, work. That comes first, and sometimes you reap the rewards.”
A bit later, it was mentioned to Portugal manager Roberto Martinez that the night before Oblak helped Atletico past Inter, Costa couldn’t stop any of Arsenal’s penalties in their Champions League last-16 game, resulting in Porto’s elimination and the Londoners’ advancement.
“Diogo is in great form,” said Martinez. “His experience against Arsenal was very important, but he went with his instincts here.”
“He is an amazing goalkeeper. He’s a well-kept secret in Portugal. I’ve worked with some very good goalkeepers, and he’s up there with the best. His current maturity and experience mean we truly benefit from his performances.”
Patience and Timing: Costa’s First Key
Well, the secret is out now.
But it’s not a secret that needed much uncovering. Costa has now saved 13 of the 42 penalties he has faced—almost one in three—and just two years ago, he saved three consecutive penalties across three Champions League games. No one had ever saved three non-shootout penalties in a single Champions League season before.
The saves he made here were all performed at full stretch with two hands. These weren’t poor penalties, especially Ilicic’s first one. They were struck hard and close to the posts, with gettable heights, perhaps, but well-placed nonetheless.
“The patience, timing, and explosiveness he demonstrated were exceptional,” explains Matt Pyzdrowski, The Athletic’s goalkeeping expert, a coach, and former goalkeeper who played in Sweden and the United States.
“The way he almost waited until the striker made contact with the ball before making his move was absolutely perfect.”
The Element of Explosiveness
“Moreover, despite his long wait, he still managed to cover the corners of his goal with both hands, which is a special skill and not something just any goalkeeper can do. That’s down to his athleticism and explosiveness.”
“It almost seemed like he had a telepathic sense of where the striker would aim. It was an incredible performance.”
“His composure was also really good. No big dramatic movements or distraction techniques before the players struck the ball. He just waited patiently in goal and focused on getting the timing of his dives spot on.”
Trusting Instincts
And although he had spent most of the game watching the Oblak show at the other end, Costa also made what was arguably the best non-penalty save of the match. In the 115th minute, he extended his left foot to deny Benjamin Sesko in a one-on-one situation.
“First of all, I thought, ‘I’ve got to stop this’,” Costa said matter-of-factly when asked about the save after the match. “I tried to read his body language, and fortunately, I was able to help the team. That’s my job.”
Whether it has been on the international radar or not, Costa has been excelling in his role for some time.
Six years ago, Iker Casillas, the former Spain and Real Madrid legend who concluded his club career at Porto, was already predicting that Costa would be his successor… and perhaps not just at Porto.
“There is a star coming through,” Casillas said in 2018. “His name is Diogo Costa. I believe he’s going to be a superb goalkeeper.”
It looks like you were right, Iker.
