Croatia's Darijo Srna, left, and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo jump for the ball during the Euro 2016 round of 16 soccer match between Croatia and Portugal at the Bollaert stadium in Lens, France, Saturday, June 25, 2016. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
Croatia's Darijo Srna, left, and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo jump for the ball during the Euro 2016 round of 16 soccer match between Croatia and Portugal at the Bollaert stadium in Lens, France, Saturday, June 25, 2016. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) Credit: Frank Augstein

Lens, France — Cristiano Ronaldo helped create a rare chance and substitute Ricardo Quaresma finished it off, helping Portugal to beat Croatia 1-0 on Saturday and advance to the European Championship quarterfinals.

Portugal settled a poor game in the 117th minute with its only serious attack, when Ronaldo’s one shot all match was parried by goalkeeper Danijel Subasic across the goalmouth in the second half of extra time. Quaresma stooped to head the ball into an unguarded net from close range.

The goal came from a fast counter attack just after Croatia forward Ivan Perisic had struck the post with a shot.

Portugal will now play Poland in the quarterfinals on Thursday in Marseille. It is clearly in the weaker half of the bracket, avoiding Spain, Italy, Germany and France until the final on July 10.

Somehow, Portugal and 31-year-old Ronaldo have a chance to win an elusive first title after three draws in the group stage and looking incapable of scoring in a cautious, mistake-filled match in the round of 16.

Neither side aimed a shot or header on target until extra time, and the match only sparked into life in the closing minutes.

Croatia’s best chances fell to defender Domagoj Vida. A 62nd-minute header wide was the closest anybody came in 90 minutes, another header in extra time flew over an unguarded goal, and — in a frantic final push — his hooked shot flew just wide.

Poland 1, Switzerland 1 (Poland 5-4 PK)

Saint-Etienne, France — As spectacular as it was, Xherdan Shaqiri’s beautiful bicycle kick goal just wasn’t enough.

The Switzerland forward scored the goal of the tournament against Poland on Saturday, jumping with his back to the net before sending a left-footed volley inside the post from near the edge of the area.

The goal made it 1-1 in the 82nd minute, but Poland managed to win a 5-4 in a penalty shootout and advance to the European Championship quarterfinals.

Down 1-0 at halftime, Shaqiri set the tone by creating opportunities immediately after the restart. He made Poland’s defenders look slow as they scrambled to disrupt his repeated incursions into the area with his lightening quick feet.

Wales 1, Northern Ireland 0

Paris — Gareth Bale was the creator of the only goal — an own-goal — to put Wales into the European Championship quarterfinals with a win over Northern Ireland.

Bale’s cross was aimed at teammate Hal Robson-Kanu, but it was inadvertently tipped into the net by Northern Ireland defender Gareth McAuley in the 75th minute.

The only goal threat by the Welsh before the slightly fortuitous breakthrough came from a free kick from Bale. For much of the game, Northern Ireland successfully nullified the world’s most expensive player and the tournament’s co-leading scorer with three goals.

Wales will next play either Hungary or Belgium in the quarterfinals in Lille on Friday. It will be the first time Wales will contest a quarterfinal match since the 1958 World Cup.