Diogo Jota faces scrutiny after 'very harsh' moment in Portugal's Euro 2024 win against Slovenia

Liverpool forward Diogo Jota was introduced in the 65th minute as Portugal sought to find a way past Slovenia and - despite failing to find a winner - still managed to find himself involved in controversy.

In almost an hour of subsequent football, he was unable to provide the breakthrough — but he was at the heart of a flashpoint in the contest that has attracted scrutiny. Naturally, the narrative has focused around Cristiano Ronaldo and Diogo Costa. The veteran forward had a torrid game at Euro 2024, missing chances and harming his side's build-up play, and was then in floods of tears during half-time of extra time after missing a spot kick.

But the former Real Madrid man converted his penalty in the shootout, earning a scrap of redemption. And Costa became the hero, saving all three of Slovenia's efforts to put a rather abrupt end to 120 minutes of stubborn resistance from the underdog.

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Had Ronaldo scored his extra-time penalty, however, more would have been made of Jota's role. The Liverpool man won the penalty, justifying his introduction with a driving, purposeful run at the heart of the Slovenia back line.

There were, however, one or two suggestions that it was a soft decision, or that Jota initiated the contact. Vanja Drkusic, a center-back for Sochi in Russia, was the party adjudged to be guilty.

“That's very harsh," Martin Keown remarked on BBC One. "There is contact there but is that enough?

"I do feel he caught him with the left leg. As soon as Jota feels that contact he's gone over.”

And Pat Nevin appeared to echo similar sentiments on BBC Five Live. “It's one of them where there is contact, but Jota has ran into him. You can give that either way. It's not a clear and obvious mistake, but it's very, very harsh.”

Liverpool.com says: You can see what they're on about in the context of the game. Losing to an extra-time penalty would have been a "harsh" way to go after defending so valiantly for such a long time. But getting down to the nitty gritty of the decision, Jota is very clearly fouled.

Any controversy would have been entirely manufactured. Jota was positive, he kept on running, and Drkusic put in a clumsy challenge. Had he not gone in, the Liverpool man might well have engineered a clear shot at goal.

From a Portuguese perspective, Jota should be getting hailed for changing the game and even deciding the match. But Ronaldo denied him that accolade when he missed his penalty, which was saved very smartly by Jan Oblak. Unfortunately, the goalkeeper could not repeat those heroics in the shootout.

Arne Slot will now need to wait a little longer to get Jota back in training. He will be fighting to start ahead of Darwin Nunez, but the Uruguayan is also on fine international form.