Belgium hold off Portugal to book quarter-final clash with Italy

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Thorgan Hazard’s spectacular strike was enough to see Belgium through to the quarter-finals of Euro 2020 and beat European Championship holders Portugal.

In a first-half that was otherwise uneventful, the younger Hazard brother provided a moment of magic on the stroke of half-time by unleashing a swerving effort from 25 yards out which left Portugal goalkeeper Rui Patricio with no chance of stopping.

Hazard returned to the Red Devils’ starting lineup alongside Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld, Thomas Meunier and Youri Tielemans as Roberto Martinez had the luxury of naming a full-strength starting 11.

On the contrary, Fernando Santos was forced to hand Diogo Dalot a first start of the tournament with Nelson Semedo ruled out through injury. Danilo Pereira also missed out with João Palhinha taking his place in midfield.

Diogo Jota spurned the best opportunity in the opening 45 minutes after a surging run from Renato Sanches saw the Liverpool forward receive the ball in the penalty area with time and space, but Jota snatched at the chance and fired a left-footed effort well off target.

Apart from that chance, both sides were restricted to speculative efforts from range with Cristiano Ronaldo’s free-kick stinging the palms of Thibaut Courtois, whilst Meunier sent a curling effort over the crossbar.

Santos required a second-half response from his side, and in all fairness he got one. The Seleção began to ramp up the pressure once their Euro 2016 winning boss replaced Bernardo Silva and João Moutinho with Bruno Fernandes and João Félix.

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Jota again failed to test Courtois following great work by Ronaldo who played a neat one-two with Dalot before picking out the former Wolves man who could only shoot over from 12 yards.

Then came the chance that the whole of Portugal had been waiting for. Fernandes produced a pinpoint outswinging corner onto the head of Rúben Dias, but the Manchester City defender thundered his header at Courtois. If he had aimed either side of the Real Madrid shotstopper it would have been a goal, but another chance went begging.

Once Raphaël Guerreiro’s right-footed half-volley cannoned off the post and away from goal, it was evidently not going to be Portugal’s night.

If the holders could have performed as well in the first-half as they did in the second, they could have made it through to the quarter-finals, but instead, they will rue missed chances and rotten luck.

Whilst Martinez was jubilent when the full-time whistle was blown, his celebration also gave off a sense of relief. His team have done what champions must do though, winning when not performing at their best.

The Red Devils will face Italy in the quarter-finals, whilst the inquest will begin as the Seleção were just not consistent enough throughout the competition.

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