What They Say No: 1

What you heard Sepp Blatter say: "After last night’s match Goal Line Technology is no longer an alternative but a necessity.'

What Sepp Blatter meant: "Bloody hell! now England have benefited from a dubious goal. I better do something about it..."

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Portugal 1 Czech Republic 0

The first of the quarter-finals saw Portugal go through thanks to a superlative display from Ronaldo who tormented the Czech's all night and eventually scored superbly with a header struck so firmly that Cech could do nothing about it. In fact, despite the low scoring, this game was completely dominated by the Portugese who had chance after chance, Ronaldo alone striking the post twice and seeing his opponents keeper make some fine stops. The only question was if the Czech Republic might somehow frustrate Portugal and hit them on the break but, in truth, even that seemed unlikely.

In an interesting, rather than spectacular first half, and it was Ronaldo who showed his class just before half-time, bringing the ball down on his chest, swivelling and hitting a thunderous shot that smacked the post. This was the second time Ronaldo was to curse the woodwork as, after 50 minutes, he saw his 30-yard free-kick clip the outside of the far post with Cech beaten.

Portugal had started the second half well, Almeida heading over from 12 yards after being picked out by Raul Meireles' cross and later Cech was forced to parry away a 25-yard strike from Nani. After 57 minutes, the offside flag denied Portugal the lead as Almeida glanced in Nani's cross and then Moutinho's 25-yard effort was tipped over.

A Portugese goal had to come and when it did it was no surprise it fell to Ronaldo. From Moutinho's right-wing cross, the determined Real Madrid player got inside his full-back and headed downwards so the flight beat Cech's despairing arms. Portugal continued to attack with Cech again, beating away an angled 25-yard effort from full-back Joao Pereira.

There really wasn't anything else Portugal could have asked from a quarter-final and the only black spot for them was the injury to striker Helder Postiga six minutes before half-time. The player pulled up with what appeared to be a hamstring problem, and was stretchered off. It looked like a tournament ending injury and his replacement, Besiktas frontman Hugo Almeida, can probably look forward to a semi-final and, on this Ronaldo showing, possibly a final as well.

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