– The Portuguese penalty hero comes from Rothrist AG
The 24-year-old goalkeeper spent the first years of his life in Switzerland. Then he returned home with his mother. There the talent became a star – and now Ronaldo’s savior.
Published today at 10:19
Brilliant saves for Portugal’s victory: Diogo Costa saves all three penalties.
Video: Tamedia
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He flies properly for once.
He flies correctly twice.
He flies correctly three times.
Diogo Costa is the hero of the Portuguese in the European Championship round of 16 against SloveniaThe 24-year-old Portuguese goalkeeper saved three penalties in the penalty shootout. Afterwards he said: “That was the best game of my life.” But not just because of these three saves. But more on that later.
Diogo Costa saves one, two, three penalties for Portugal against Slovenia.
Foto: Alex Grimm (Getty Images)
Costa has a special story. It connects him to Switzerland. Although he has been playing for FC Porto for 14 years, he spent the first years of his life in the canton of Aargau. He grew up in Rothrist until his mother decided to leave Switzerland and return to Portugal. According to Watson, Costa is a Swiss-Portuguese dual citizen.
Diogo was seven years old when he moved back to his parents’ homeland. In Portugal, he soon found himself in goal for the small CB Póvoa do Lanhoso, a few kilometers north of Porto. And it quickly became clear what a talent he was.
He moved to FC Porto when he was 11 years old, and at 16 he was training with the pros and benefited from working with Iker Casillas. The long-time Spanish national goalkeeper, world champion and European champion spent the last years of his career in Porto and was soon convinced that a strong goalkeeper was coming up behind him.
Costa has been a Portuguese international since the U-15s, and he became European champion with the U-17s and U-19s. He will make his debut with the senior national team in 2021, and will already be a regular player at the 2022 World Cup. Casillas, his mentor and advocate, said during the tournament in Qatar: “He has everything to become one of the greatest of his generation.”
On Monday evening in Germany, Costa had great moments not only at the very end. In the 115th minute of extra time, he saved with his foot when Benjamin Sesko was charging towards him alone.
Key save in the 115th minute: Costa deflects Benjamin Sesko’s shot past the goal with his foot.
Photo: Daniel Roland (AFP)
Afterwards, during the penalty shootout, he relies less on the data he has collected about opposing shooters than on his gut feeling, as he later says. And for this he earns special thanks from superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. He had the early match ball on his feet in the 105th minute when he was allowed to kick a foul penalty. but fails and sheds bitter tears afterwards.
Diogo Costa’s intuition ultimately led Portugal to victory. He set a European Championship record by saving three penalties in a penalty shootout. No goalkeeper has ever managed to keep a clean sheet in a penalty shootout at a European Championship. His performance also earned him high praise from Roberto Martínez. After the match, the Portuguese national coach said: “The secret of Portugal is Diogo Costa. He was incredible.”
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Ueli Kägi has headed the sports department since 2014 and also reports mainly on football. More info
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