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Portugal have failed to defend the Euro 2016 title. Cristiano Ronaldo’s titanic efforts weren’t enough either: the Portuguese star scored five goals in the group stage alone.
The Belgians, for their part, continue to argue that it is not for nothing that today’s players are called the “golden generation”. In the 2016 quarterfinals, the French reached the final, and in the 2018 World Championship, the French themselves took their ticket to the final.
The Belgians didn’t play their real football in the group stage, but they didn’t need it. The World Championship bronze medalists won all three victories: against Russia (3: 0), Denmark (2: 1) and Finland (2: 0). The tournament is going well for Milan “Inter” rookie Romel Lukaku – he has already scored 3 goals.
It is worth mentioning that the Belgians have achieved their first victory against Portugal since 1989, when they played the tie for the World Cup.
PHOTO GALLERY. Eighth Final Euro 2020: Belgium – Portugal
In the next stage, the Belgians are waiting for another great nut: a capable Italian team. The meeting will take place on July 2 in Munich, Germany.
At the start of the match, the team did not set a high tone, realizing that the cost of the mistake was too high. The equality meeting “exploded” only at the end of the half.
With 42 minutes played, Romelu Lukaku was about to give the home team the advantage with an unexpected free kick, but the visitor Rui Patricio was attentive, preventing the goal.
After the break, Ronaldo tried his best to beat the opponents defense, but the Portuguese leader was silenced.
It is true that for the Belgians tonight is too much. Player Kevin De Bruyne had to leave the field after 48 minutes due to a knee injury. Dries Mertens replaced him. We remind you that the Manchester City defender broke his nose in the Champions League final and it was not even clear if he could play in Euro 2020.
Still, even without their source of creation, the Belgians were not disturbed even as emotions reached their highest level. At the end of the second half, Portuguese defender Pepe openly came into conflict with the Belgians, but for the latter and Toby Alderweireld, referee Felix Brych issued a yellow card.
Although the Portuguese broke in until the end of the match, the Belgians will continue their march towards Euro 2020.
Match progress:
Second half:
88 min. A true football performance, chance after chance for goal and goal. Courtois rescues the Belgians from Silva’s coup.
83 min. Spindles! The Portuguese begin little by little to besiege the gate. Guerreiro lacked very little, but the Belgian door remains “dry”.
81 min. Passions rise to unprecedented levels in this championship. The referee shows a yellow card to Belgian defender T. Alderweireld.
77 min. Portuguese defender Pepe, in his style. At first, R. Lukaku stumbled in the middle of the field, but the Portuguese did not offer to throw the ball over the edge. After that, the player of the Portuguese team fell to the grass and E. Hazard tried to run demonstratively towards the rival goal. Pepe didn’t have a good day today, slipping continuously on the muddy pitch. F. Brych issues him a yellow card for this behavior.
58 min. Impressive slalom by C. Ronaldo through two players, accurate pass, but D. Jota cannot direct the ball into the goal area from about 11 meters.
48 min. A hard blow for the Belgians. K. De Bruyne, who injured his foot in the first half, can no longer suffer and is being substituted. Dries Mertens appears instead.
First half:
45 + 3 min. Judge Felix Brych announces the end of the first half. The Portuguese must draw conclusions after the first half: Europe may have new champions.
42 min. OBJECTIVE! What a blow for T. Hazardo! Of course, you have to take your hat off and against R. Lukaku, who once again perfectly cleared the defender’s ball and handed the team to a friend near the penalty area. Belgium practically scores in the dressing room.
🇧🇪 Thorgan Hazard celebrates after scoring with a brilliant deflection effort! # EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/nybgIsGy8G
– UEFA EURO 2020 (@ EURO2020) June 27, 2021
38 min. Portugal took control of the ball slowly but surely. Now at 53 percent, they are setting the conditions on the field and have fired six shots. However, it is difficult to stand out 100% of the time so far.
25 min. C. Ronaldo shoots a free kick, but T. Courtois is light prey.
15 minutes. So far, both teams are in intelligence. Nobody wants to throw too much force in an attack, because the disappointment against such masters is really very real. Belgium had control of the ball 64% of the time. time, both teams have scored 1 goal.
6 min. The first opportunity is taken by the Portuguese. R. Sanches lost the ball to D. Jotai on the left, but the forward’s shot was very inaccurate.
Starting eleven:
Belgium (3-4-3): Thibaut Courtois (guard), Thomas Vermaelen, Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld, Thorgan Hazard, Axel Witsel, Youri Tielemans, Thomas Meunier, Eden Hazard (cap.), Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne.
Portugal (4-3-3): Rui Patricio (vart.), Raphaelis Guerreiro, Pepe, Rubenas Diasas, Diogo Dalotas, Renato Sanchesas, Joao Palhinha, Joao Moutinho, Diogo Jota, Cristiano Ronaldo (kap.), Bernardo Silva.
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