FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Euro 2024 - Round of 16 - Portugal v Slovenia - Frankfurt Arena, Frankfurt, Germany - July 1, 2024 Portugal's Diogo Costa saves a penalty during the shootout missed by Slovenia's Josip Ilicic REUTERS/Lee Smith/File Photo
DUESSELDORF, Germany (Reuters) - After Benjamin Verbic missed Slovenia's third successive penalty in this week's Euro 2024 second-round shootout against Portugal, he described football's ultimate test as a lottery.
All three penalties were executed similarly and drew three near-identical saves by Portuguese goalkeeper Diogo Costa, who each time initiated his dives just before the ball was struck.
