Thorgan Hazard scored the only goal of the game as Belgium knocked the holders Portugal out of Euro 2020 on Sunday after the Czech Republic ended the dreams of a 10-man Netherlands side.

Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portugal team-mates were hoping to defend the trophy they won in Paris five years ago but they could not recover after the lesser heralded of the Hazard brothers smashed home just before half-time in Seville and Belgium held out for a 1-0 victory.

The meeting between the reigning champions and the world's top-ranked team was hotly anticipated but it never lived up to expectations.

Belgium will not care as they advance to another exciting tie, a mouth-watering quarter-final against Italy in Munich on Friday.

"I just tried my luck," said Borussia Dortmund winger Hazard. "It wasn't easy but to go all the way in a tournament you have to suffer at times."

It remains to be seen if their captain, Kevin De Bruyne, will be fit to face Italy after he was forced off early in the second half feeling the effects of an earlier Joao Palhinha challenge that left him with an injured ankle.

Coach Roberto Martinez also saw skipper Eden Hazard come off late on with a hamstring problem.

Raphael Guerreiro came closest to equalising for Portugal but Ronaldo rarely looked like getting the goal that would have seen him break the all-time international scoring record.

He equalled the record of 109 goals established by Iran's Ali Daei with a brace in the 2-2 draw with France in Portugal's final group game.

At 36, this could well have been Ronaldo's last ever match at the European Championship but he will certainly hope to play at next year's World Cup in Qatar.

"There are players in tears," said Portugal coach Fernando Santos. "We are very sad because the players gave everything."

Source: Business Times 

BDST: 1152 HRS, JUNE 28, 2021
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