Portugal coach Fernando Santos credited a change in tactics for helping his team recover from an early deficit and rally to defeat Poland on penalties in their Euro 2016 quarterfinal.
Portugal started on the back foot after Robert Lewandowski put Poland ahead in just the second minute, but Santos said a small shift allowed his side to answer through Renato Sanches' goal.
"Poland started really well but I had a strategy with William Carvalho, Renato Sanches and Adrien Silva closing their players down," Santos said. "We let them take over the game for a bit and we weren't able to control [Arkadiusz] Milik, so I spoke to Renato Sanches to change things and asked Nani to drop a bit deeper.
"Thankfully we got the goal through Renato -- but Poland are a very good team who know how to lull their opponents into a state of rest. But we did well, we played on the front foot and had the better chances, even if Poland had a few as well.
"I think we won fair and square against a very good team."
The manager said he had full faith in his players to come through the shootout, despite Poland already experiencing one round of spot-kicks in their round-of-16 win against Switzerland.
"As we move further along, we get closer to our goal. We have the drive and ambition and we want to bring great joy to the Portuguese people," Santos said.
"Penalties are a lottery but you have to show a lot of character. I knew that Poland were great at spot-kicks because they won on penalties in the last round but I told my players to stay calm because I knew they would score."
Santos handed Sanches his first start of the tournament, and the coach said this is only the first glimpse of the 18-year-old's promising future.
"Renato Sanches played very well but I don't think the Renato you see today is the once we'll see in the future," Santos said. "He's still growing and he has to take all his qualities and put them all on the pitch. It's my job to help him do this. He reminds me of the great Portuguese player Coluna.
"It's crucial at this stage to rotate the players. I want them to be responsible but also free to enjoy the game. They have a real unity about them.
"Of course they make mistakes -- and so do I -- but our ace in the pack is that they're so determined to power through games."
However, it wasn't Ronaldo or Sanches who drew Santos' eye, but the work of defender Pepe that the coach credited for keeping his side in the game.
"I don't usually single out players but Pepe was amazing today," Santos said. "People talk about Cristiano Ronaldo and he's been playing some brilliant football but Pepe was fantastic."
Portugal will face Belgium or Wales n the semifinals, though Santos would not speculate on either opponent.
"I'm confident about my work. We'll approach the semis in the same way we've done so far," he said. "Our feet are planted solidly on the ground. We'll be up against a very good team but we'll be prepared."