Cristiano Ronaldo conceded the feelings were bittersweet after Portugal progressed to the last eight of Euro 2024.
Ronaldo saw a penalty brilliantly saved by Jan Oblak during extra time of Monday's clash with Slovenia.
The 39-year-old was in tears at the interval during the extra 30 minutes, but stepped up to take Portugal's first spot-kick in the shootout and made no mistake with his finish.
Diogo Costa was Portugal's hero, as he became the first goalkeeper to save three shots in a European Championship penalty shootout without conceding.
Ronaldo teared up again during his media duties at full-time.
"Even the strongest people have their [bad] days. I was at rock bottom when the team needed me the most," said Ronaldo, as quoted by BBC Sport.
"Sadness at the start is joy at the end. That's what football is. Moments, inexplicable moments. I feel sad and happy at the same time.
"But the important thing is to enjoy it. The team did an extraordinary job.
"We fought right to the end and I think we deserved it."
Ronaldo, the record goalscorer and appearance maker at the Euros, has had 20 shots so far in Germany without finding the back of the net.
"We all know that Cristiano is the hardest worker," said goalkeeper Costa.
"I understand how frustrated he is because he devotes all his time to this. It’s a pleasure and an honour to be on the same team as him.
"We're a family, I really think this. I focus on making the best of these chances and I wanted to help the team. This is the most important thing."
Portugal will take on fellow heavyweights France in the quarter-finals.
Euro 2024 social round-up: Andrich debuts new look, Walker turns cheerleader
After two long days without any Euro 2024 action, the quarter-finals got going on Friday.
There were two mouthwatering ties on offer as Spain played Germany, while Kylian Mbappe and Cristiano Ronaldo went head-to-head for France and Portugal.
And what about the action online?
Here is the best of the social media posts from Thursday and Friday at Euro 2024.
New look?
The hosts have already caught the eye with their performances en route to the quarter-final.
And now, Robert Andrich has caught attention with a bold new style, possibly inspired by Germany's away kit at the tournament.
Ultimately, Andrich did not get a chance to debut his new look from the start of Germany's clash with Spain, as he was named on the bench.
Walker the cheerleader
Before starting training for the day, Kyle Walker took some time to check in on how the goalkeepers were preparing for England's tie against Switzerland.
John Stones tagged along with his Manchester City team-mate, and almost got themselves into trouble after getting a little too invested in the session.
Spanish goalkeepers put to the test
Things can get a little hectic in the penalty area during set-pieces with both teams desperate to get on the ball.
Spain have figured out an impressive way to give their goalkeepers an in-game experience during training.
Although, some of those shirt tugs would likely catch the referee's attention...
The Portuguese take over Hamburg
The Portuguese fans were out in full force before their round of 16 penalty shootout victory in Frankfurt.
They have now taken to the streets in Hamburg, with the hopes that their side can recreate the magic of the Euro 2016 final, when they beat France 1-0 to lift the trophy.
Back to their roots
France's squad is full of household names, with their players spanning the globe for their various clubs.
In a special photo shoot, they instead looked back to their beginnings, each donning the shirt of their first-ever club, and they gave a glimpse behind the scenes to see how it all came together.
The competition heats up
The Netherlands produced their best performance so far at Euro 2024 on Tuesday when they booked a place in the quarter-final with a 3-0 victory over Romania.
And their competitive spirit stretches past the pitch and into the game room at their training base.
While Nathan Ake showed off his interesting technique for a new high score, tensions were on the rise at the ping-pong table.
Real Salt Lake v Atlanta United: Five Stripes looking to regain clinical edge
Atlanta United interim head coach Rob Valentino is hoping his side can find their end product when they face a tough road test at Real Salt Lake in MLS.
The Five Stripes' four-game unbeaten streak was snapped with a 2-1 midweek defeat to the New England Revolution as they stay ninth in the Eastern Conference.
They were also unbeaten in their last four road games before travelling to the Revs, and Valentino has urged his team to improve their play in the final third to get back to winning ways.
"There were chances [against New England], but the expected goals and chances don't mean anything to me unless they end up in the back of the net," the head coach said.
"The team were persistent. They were putting in different deliveries and different movements to get into the area, but we need the goals to actually go in.
"The group have shown they are capable of winning games. The tactics will change from game to game along with roles and responsibilities, and we will adapt in-game as well in an attempt to win."
Meanwhile, Salt Lake are back up to second in the Western Conference after a comeback win over the Houston Dynamo on Wednesday.
A 1-0 defeat to LA Galaxy at the end of June snapped a 15-game unbeaten streak for RSL, but they bounced back to leapfrog the Galaxy in the table, and now sit just three points behind leaders Los Angeles FC.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Real Salt Lake – Braian Ojeda
Braiain Ojeda scored his first goal for RSL in MLS, netting what turned out to be the winner against Houston Dynamo in midweek in what was his 63rd appearance for the club.
Atlanta United – Daniel Rios
Daniel Rios has been involved in three goals in his last three games for Atlanta. The Mexican has scored two and assisted one, including their lone goal in the defeat to New England Revolution last time out.
MATCH PREDICTION: REAL SALT LAKE WIN
With LAFC not playing until Sunday, RSL could go level on points with them in the table if they can get a second consecutive win.
Their 15-game unbeaten run in MLS set a new club record for the longest single-season streak in their history – they scored in all but one of those matches, only failing to find a way past CF Montreal in a 0-0 draw.
While current form is in Salt Lake's favour, they have only won one of their previous four meetings with Atlanta, with the Five Stripes winning the other three.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Real Salt Lake – 54.6%
Draw – 23.3%
Atlanta United – 22%
Colombia v Panama: Copa America's surprise package down to more than just luck – Christensen
Thomas Christiansen is challenging Panama to keep springing surprises at the Copa America when they face off against Colombia in the quarter-finals.
After losing their opening game of the tournament 3-1 to free-scoring Uruguay, Panama dug in to cause an upset for host nation United States, coming from behind to win 2-1.
A comfortable 3-1 victory over Bolivia followed secured second place in Group C as Panama booked their place in the knockout round of the Copa America for the very first time.
Former Leeds United boss Christiansen challenged his team to be the surprise package, but says this result is years in the making.
"When we were going to leave for the United States, I said I would like to be the surprise [of the tournament], like Morocco in the [2022] World Cup [who made it to the semi-finals]," he told reporters.
"Well, now we're through to the next round. I am happy. Super happy.
"It's constant, really, what we have been doing, what we have been reaping in these almost four years.
"[Is it a] coincidence? I don't believe in coincidences. You have to work. You have to fight for it. Luck alone isn't enough."
Colombia were the winners of Group D, beating Brazil to top spot.
Wins over Paraguay and Costa Rica put Colombia in the driving seat before they held Dorival Junior's side to a 1-1 draw in the final match.
While that may be a surprising outcome on the face of it, Colombia are the form team in South America and are on a 26-game unbeaten streak.
Integral to their success has been James Rodriguez, who is often their talisman at major tournaments, having first come into the spotlight in the 2014 World Cup.
"I feel comfortable, there is still a long way to go, we still have to play on Saturday, but I felt good," the ex-Real Madrid star said.
"I am going through a good phase here; we are going step by step. Panama will be difficult, but we will play with a lot of quality."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Colombia – James Rodriguez
James has been a driving force for Colombia at the tournament, having already recorded three assists.
Colombia had the best crossing accuracy at the Copa America group stage, completing 41% of their crosses (20/49). James was responsible for 11 of their successful crosses – the most of any player in the tournament.
Panama – Jose Fajardo
Out of players who attempted more than five shots in the Copa America group stage, Jose Fajardo boasts the second-highest shot conversion rate.
He scored with 29% of his attempts (2/7), bettered only by Argentina's Lautaro Martinez (44%), who is the tournament's leading scorer.
MATCH PREDICTION: COLOMBIA WIN
Colombia stretched their unbeaten run in all competitions to 26 matches with their draw against Brazil, and the Opta computer has backed them to continue that here.
Colombia are playing in their sixth consecutive Copa America quarter-final, with each of their last four going to penalties. Los Cafeteros have won twice (against Peru in 2016 and Uruguay in 2021) and lost twice (against Argentina in 2015 and Chile in 2019).
Panama have won four of their seven competitive matches in the 21st century against opponents from CONMEBOL (losing the other three).
Two of those victories were against Colombia when they faced each other in the group stage (1-0) and the semifinals (3-2) of the 2005 Concacaf Gold Cup.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Colombia – 61.6%
Draw – 19.6%
Panama – 18.8%
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