Portugal and Slovenia have announced their line-ups for their Uefa Euro 2024 last-16 tie in Frankfurt.
Cristiano Ronaldo is aiming to end his longest run without a goal at major tournament, having failed to scored in any of his last seven appearances for Portugal at major tournaments.
The Portugal captain last scored at a Euro or World Cup against Ghana in 2022 and was joined by a succession of star attacking talents in the Selecao’s line-up as they restored their first-choice team having rested a raft of players in their surprise 2-0 defeat to Georgia.
Portugal XI: Diogo Costa, Cancelo, Ruben Dias, Pepe, Nuno Mendes, Palhinha, Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes, Rafael Leao, Ronaldo, Bernardo Silva
Captain and left-back Erik Janza was suspended for Slovenia, who replaced him with Alanyaspor’s Jure Balkovec as they looked to end a run of four straight Euro draws.
Slovenia XI: Oblak, Karnicnik, Drkusic, Bijol, Balkovec; Stojanovic, Elsnik, Gnezda Cerin, Mlakar; Sporar, Sesko
Portugal won Group F but had a trickier time than many might have expected along the way, including a surprise 2-0 defeat in their closing match to a Georgia side playing at their first major tournament.
The Selecao scored a 92nd-minute winner to come from behind to beat the Czech Republic in their opening match and proceeded to beat a dangerous Turkiyes side 3-0.
Slovenia went through as one of the best third-placed teams, securing the first of their three points by drawing 1-1 with Denmark in their opener.
They were only denied victory over Serbia by a 95th-minute equaliser and then held England to a 0-0 draw which took them to the knockout stage.
The winners of this contest will face France on July 5 in Stuttgart.
Seventy-four years into their existence, having been founded in 1950, the chance for Stade Brestois to finally make their European debut has been long-awaited.
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