Croatia were knocked out of the Euro 2016 in France last night after a mammoth battle against Portugal. Portugal beat Croatia 1-0 to win a place in the Euro 2016 quarter-finals with a goal in the 117th minute.

In a tense game in Lens that was dominated by two strong defensive displays chances were few and far between. The game went into extra time after a 0 – 0 stalemate in which there were only a attempts at goal. In fact the 117th winner from Ricardo Quaresma for Portugal was the first shot on goal in the whole match. To say it was a cagey affair would be an understatement, Croatia were on top for most of the game and Cristiano Ronaldo was kept quiet by a strong Croatian defence.

But then with only just over two minutes of extra time remaining the Portuguese counterattacked and broke Croatian hearts with a late, late winner.

“We dominated the game but we didn’t score,” commented the Croatian coach, Ante Cacic. Adding that “So the best team lost. It happens in football.”

Portugal now go into the quarter-finals where they will face Poland whilst the Croatian team fly home wondering what could have been.

Fans in Dubrovnik after the final whistle - Photo Tonci Plazibat