FOOTBALL
Hazard warning for Euro rivals as Portugal’s crown falls
Eden Hazard of Belgium battles for possession with Christian Benteke of Belgium during the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship Round of 16 match between Belgium and Portugal at Estadio La Cartuja on June 27, 2021 in Seville, Spain. (Photo by Getty Images)
SEVILLE, June 27, 2021 - Portugal’s pandemic-extended five-year reign as champions of Europe is at an end.
Their crown, seized against the odds in France in 2016, clattered to the ground in Seville as Cristiano Ronaldo & Co fell 1-0 to Belgium in the round of 16 at the rescheduled Euro 2020.
A goal just before halftime in southern Spain from Thorgan Hazard fired the world’s No1-ranked nation to a quarter-final duel with Italy in Munich. Earlier the Czech Republic had defeated Netherlands 2-0 in Budapest to earn a meeting with Denmark in Baku.
Belgium and Portugal showed enormous respect for each other in a cagey first half before Roberto Martinez’s Red Devils struck what proved the only goal. A body-swerve past Ronaldo by Thibaut Courtois enabled the goalkeeper to launch a sweeping move via Romelu Lukaku, Kevin de Bruyne, captain Eden Hazard and Thomas Meunier.
Hazard then delivered the coup de grace by thundering a drive beyond surprised goalkeeper Rui Patricio.
Belgium suffered a blow early in the second half when De Bruyne had to be substituted with an ankle injury. However his team-mates redoubled their efforts to withstand wave after wave of Portuguese attacks.
In the closing stages Ruben Dias had a bullet header beaten out by Courtois, Raphael Guerreiro struck a post and substitute Joao Felix headed just wide. But they could never find Ronaldo in space so new champions will be crowned at Wembley on July 11.
Belgium’s Dutch neighbours are out after defeat by a spirited Czech Republic.
The match turned on a dramatic minute early in the second half. Netherlands striker Donyell Malen ran clear only for goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik to save at his feet. The Czechs raced away on the counter-attack and Dutch defender Matthijs De Ligt bowled over the onrushing Patrik Schick.
Russian referee Sergey Karasev showed De Ligt a yellow card but then, on VAR advice, changed it to red.
Being reduced to 10 men shattered Dutch nerves and the Czechs punished them ruthlessly. Tomas Holes headed a first goal in the 68th minute then set up a second for Schick.
A sad De Ligt said later: “It feels bad. We basically lost because of what I did. I thought we had the game under control but, obviously, the red card made the difference.”
Their crown, seized against the odds in France in 2016, clattered to the ground in Seville as Cristiano Ronaldo & Co fell 1-0 to Belgium in the round of 16 at the rescheduled Euro 2020.
A goal just before halftime in southern Spain from Thorgan Hazard fired the world’s No1-ranked nation to a quarter-final duel with Italy in Munich. Earlier the Czech Republic had defeated Netherlands 2-0 in Budapest to earn a meeting with Denmark in Baku.
Belgium and Portugal showed enormous respect for each other in a cagey first half before Roberto Martinez’s Red Devils struck what proved the only goal. A body-swerve past Ronaldo by Thibaut Courtois enabled the goalkeeper to launch a sweeping move via Romelu Lukaku, Kevin de Bruyne, captain Eden Hazard and Thomas Meunier.
Hazard then delivered the coup de grace by thundering a drive beyond surprised goalkeeper Rui Patricio.
Belgium suffered a blow early in the second half when De Bruyne had to be substituted with an ankle injury. However his team-mates redoubled their efforts to withstand wave after wave of Portuguese attacks.
In the closing stages Ruben Dias had a bullet header beaten out by Courtois, Raphael Guerreiro struck a post and substitute Joao Felix headed just wide. But they could never find Ronaldo in space so new champions will be crowned at Wembley on July 11.
Belgium’s Dutch neighbours are out after defeat by a spirited Czech Republic.
The match turned on a dramatic minute early in the second half. Netherlands striker Donyell Malen ran clear only for goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik to save at his feet. The Czechs raced away on the counter-attack and Dutch defender Matthijs De Ligt bowled over the onrushing Patrik Schick.
Russian referee Sergey Karasev showed De Ligt a yellow card but then, on VAR advice, changed it to red.
Being reduced to 10 men shattered Dutch nerves and the Czechs punished them ruthlessly. Tomas Holes headed a first goal in the 68th minute then set up a second for Schick.
A sad De Ligt said later: “It feels bad. We basically lost because of what I did. I thought we had the game under control but, obviously, the red card made the difference.”
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