Cristiano Ronaldo and his friends lost their European crown in the first knock-out match of the Euro 2020. The reigning champions they will remain until the final on 11 July – officially. But in reality, they have already given up the throne they’d reached in 2016. Ronaldo may have played his last game in this competition because he’ll be 39 years old by the time next Euro kicks off. However, his fitness and drive make him the last man we’d like to dismiss.Ronaldo’s Portugal gets battered by Belgium for the EURO 2020 exitBut not even the Juventus’ superstar couldn’t help his team to a win against a classy Belgium side. This was the night of the Red Devils. Match-winner Thorgan Hazard scored one of the goals of the tournament when he whipped in a glorious effort from outside the area just before the break. It was a strike worthy of winning any match.”In these kinds of games, you have to grab your chances with both hands. And voila! The goalkeeper expected me to choose the other corner, so the ball went in. I am happy I could score for my country!”🗣️ “[The ball] didn’t want to go in today.”🇧🇪🆚🇵🇹 Thibaut Courtois & Cristiano Ronaldo after the final whistle…#EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/oBDyZG3f8j— UEFA EURO 2020 (@EURO2020) June 27, 2021 Belgium custodian Thibaut Courtois came out of the game with a clean sheet but it was far from a quiet night for the Real Madrid goalkeeper.”I didn’t have a lot of work to do in the previous three games but I knew that wasn’t going to be the case against Portugal. I am proud of my teammates; they defended very well. Italy will be difficult too, but we have proved today that we are ready for it.”2 – Thorgan Hazard is the first ever Belgian to score in consecutive EURO appearances. Threat. pic.twitter.com/Bqn4cBtSu5— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) June 27, 2021 Portugal coach Fernando Santos could have seen out his last match in charge of the national team, but he put on a brave face and decided to look forward to next year’s World Cup in Qatar.”It was similar in 2018 when we lost in the round of 16 of the World Cup against Uruguay, but we managed to dust ourselves down and win the UEFA Nations League in 2019. Again we have to use the experience of defeat and look forward to Qatar. No team can say that they were superior to Portugal. Our players should know that they’ve done everything to make the nation happy. We deserved to win, but it wasn’t to be.”EURO 2020Round of 16Saturday, 26 JuneWales – Denmark 0-4 (0-1)/Dolberg 27, 48, Maehle 88, Braithwaite 90/Italy – Austria 2-1 after extra time (0-0)/Chiesa 95, Pessina 105 – Kalajdzic 114/Sunday, 27 JuneNetherlands – Czech Republic 0-2 (0-0)/Holes 58, Schick 80/Belgium – Portugal 1-0 (1-0)/T Hazard 42/Monday, 28 June19.00: Croatia – Spain22.00: France – SwitzerlandTuesday, 29 June19.00: England – Germany22.00: Sweden – Ukraine
