EURO 2020 Full time: Belgium 1-0 Portugal. So, Belgium will play Italy in the quarter-final after a seriously hard-fought victory over Portugal. The reigning champions were the better team for most of the game, especially in the second half, but Belgium were resilient in defence and Thibaut Courtois only had a few relatively straightforward saves to make. Raphael Guerreiro hit the post late on and Diogo Jota missed two presentable chances.
In the end the game was settled by Thorgan Hazard’s fierce drive just before half time. It may interrupt Rui Patricio’s sleep for the forseeable, because he probably should have done better. There was bad news for Belgium, with Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard both going off injured. De Bruyne’s looked serious, Hazard’s might have been a precaution.
A moment of class from Thorgan Hazard proved enough to knock out holders Portugal as Belgium continued their pursuit of a first major title by reaching the quarter-finals of Euro 2020.
The Borussia Dortmund winger’s swerving drive from 25 yards arrived late in a cagey first-half and proved enough for Roberto Martinez’s side to set up a mouth-watering meeting with Italy on Friday.
Portugal – who again only introduced Manchester United‘s Bruno Fernandes from the bench – will look back on key Diogo Jota chances, a Ruben Dias header that was saved and a late Raphael Guerreiro drive that struck the post.
Kevin De Bruyne’s fitness may dominate headlines in the build-up to the Italy showdown in Munich after he limped off moments after half-time, and Belgium also lost Eden Hazard to a complaint late on.
The world’s highest-ranked side may have key holes to fill but again they have showed they possess the grit to complement their undoubted quality.
Source – BBC News
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