FRANKFURT: Slovenia boss Matjaz Kek hopes his side’s run to the last 16 at Euro 2024 will be the launching pad for future success after a heart-breaking exit on penalties to Portugal.
Kek was shown a red card in extra-time after Portugal were awarded a spot-kick that Jan Oblak saved from Cristiano Ronaldo.
But it was Portuguese goalkeeper Diogo Costa who proved to be the hero in the shoot-out after the 120 minutes ended scoreless.
Costa saved all three Slovenian penalties from Josip Ilicic, Jure Balkovec and Benjamin Verbic.
“We feel a bitterness, with so much sweetness on the other…

