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Croatia 0 Portugal 1: Ricardo Quaresma’s extra-time sucker-punch sends Croats crashing out of Euro 2016

Croats hit post but opponents go up other end and score after 115 minutes of drab football

Cristiano Ronaldo and Ricardo Quaresma celebrate as Portugal beat Croatia in the Euro 2016 round of 16 tie

RICARDO QUARESMA ended one of the worst games in Euros history with a late sucker punch.

It took till the 26th minute of extra time for either team to record a shot on target.

Portugal holds its breath as Ricardo Quaresma heads his country into the Euro 2016 with a breathless extra-time goal in Lens
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Portugal holds its breath as Ricardo Quaresma heads his country into the Euro 2016 with a breathless extra-time goal in LensCredit: Reuters
Ricardo Quaresma celebrates heading Portugal into the last eight of Euro 2016
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Ricardo Quaresma celebrates heading Portugal into the last eight of Euro 2016Credit: Getty Images
Cristiano Ronaldo's orignal effort was saved by Subasic but straight into the path of Ricardo Quaresma who scored the winner
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Cristiano Ronaldo's orignal effort was saved by Subasic but straight into the path of Ricardo Quaresma who scored the winnerCredit: Reuters
Croatia's players were devastated after a fantastic chance quickly turned sour as Portugal scored the winner seconds later
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Croatia's players were devastated after a fantastic chance quickly turned sour as Portugal scored the winner seconds laterCredit: Reuters

And that was the moment Croatia had a superb header hit the post, but they were caught with their trousers down.

Renato Sanches brilliantly took the resulting clearance from box to box and released the ball out wide before it was crossed to Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Real Madrid star's thumper was then saved by Danijel Subasic, but he spilled the ball right into the path of tattooed enigma Quaresma, who nodded it home, just 28 seconds after they nearly went out.

Cue wild celebrations and a breathless, explosive finale to what, ironically, was the poorest game of the Euros so far.

Given that it was between two of the most talented teams, it was a big disappointment.

Croatia's midfielders Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic were clearly trying hard, but could not break through a solid Portuguese destroyer William Carvalho and defenders Ricardo Carvalho and Jose Fonte.

Stats showed that during the original 90 minutes Portugal touched the ball inside their opposition's box just six times, Croatia managed 10.

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Marcelo Brozovic goes up for a header from a set piece
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Marcelo Brozovic goes up for a header from a set pieceCredit: EPA
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Ivan Perisic shows off his Croatian-inspired chessboard haircut
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Ivan Perisic shows off his Croatian-inspired chessboard haircutCredit: LUSA
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Croatia players line-up for the pre-match photo ahead of their game with Portugal
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Croatia players line-up for the pre-match photo ahead of their game with PortugalCredit: Getty Images
Portugal team line up ahead of their Euro 2016 round of 16 game against Croatia
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Portugal team line up ahead of their Euro 2016 round of 16 game against CroatiaCredit: PA:Press Association
Portugal brought their fans out in force in Lens
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Portugal brought their fans out in force in LensCredit: Getty Images

DREAM TEAM RATINGS

STAR MAN - RAPHAEL GUERREIRO (Portugal)

CROATIA: Subasic 6, Mandzukic 6, Rakitic 6, Corluka 7, Badelj 7, Srna 8, Brozovic 7, Modric 7, Perisic 6, Strinic 6, Domagoj 7. Subs: Kalinic for Mandzukic 88, Pjaca for Rakitic 110, Kramaric for Corluka 121.

PORTUGAL: Rui 5, Gomes 5, Mario 6, Silva 6, Ronaldo 6, Guerreiro 8, Pepe 8, Carvalho 7, Fonte 7, Soares 7. Subs: Sanches for Gomes 7, Quaresma for Mario 6, Pereira for Silva 6. BOOKED: Carvalho

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