Euro 2020

PORTUGAL superstar Cristiano Ronaldo was left floored and screaming in agony after being caught by a flailing arm.Around 20 minutes into his country’s last-16 clash against Belgium, the Juventus striker was flattened.
Cristiano Ronaldo clashed with Belgium’s Thomas Meunier early onCredit: Rex
Ronaldo was flattened by a stray arm in the early stages of Portugal’s clash against BelgiumCredit: EPA
The Juventus striker appeared to be checking for any bloodCredit: Reuters
Thomas Meunier was the man involved for the Belgians, although it was purely accidental.
But that was no comfort to Ronaldo who was left writhing on the turf clutching his face.
It left ITV commentator for the game Sam Matterface to joke: “No, don’t touch the face!”
Thankfully the former Manchester United man was soon back to his feet, and there was no need for any VAR punishment for Meunier.
Things didn’t get much better for the superstar, 36, as defending champions Portugal crashed out of the tournament.
Thorgan Hazard, brother of Real Madrid’s former Chelsea star Eden, scored the only goal of the game when he cut in from the left and fired a beauty past Rui Patricio in the Portugal goal.
Portugal huffed and puffed in the second half – and were buoyed when both Kevin de Bruyne and Eden Hazard went off injured – but could not find an equaliser.
Raphael Guerreiro hit the post and Ruben Dias saw a powerful header saved before Joao Felix hit wide with the last kick of the game.
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The 36-year-old checks his jaw is OK after the clashCredit: Rex
Ronaldo hopes the water will do the trickCredit: Rex

Cristiano Ronaldo had needed one more goal to overtake Iran legend Ali Daei’s all-time international record of 109 goals.
But in truth he did not have one clear chance, with a long-range free-kick in the first half his best effort at goal.
The former Manchester United ace had broken six records during this tournament but he is now heading home.
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FANS were concerned after noticing Ruben Dias faced Belgium with an eye issue on Sunday night.TV cameras picked up a painful-looking swelling underneath the Portugal defender’s eye at the start of the last-16 tie.
Ruben Dias sported a painful-looking eye issue on Sunday night
It didn’t seem to hinder Dias – but the Man City star was powerless to stop defending champions Portugal crash out of the tournament after a 1-0 defeat.
The player was making his 32nd appearance for the Selecao in Seville and was an ever-present throughout the Euros going into the game.
It is not clear how Dias picked up the injury.
He faced up to Thorgan Hazard’s powerful shot that opened the scoring late in the first-half, but could not divert it away from the Portugal goal.
Fans were concerned that the 24-year-old had hurt himself in the lead-up to the game.
Twitter user Jenna asked: “Woah, anyone notice Ruben Dias left eye then?!”
One fan wrote: “Ruben Dias looks like he has a gnarly eye stye.”
Dias largely avoided injury during his first year with Manchester City.
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Making 50 appearances, he won the Football Writers’ Player of the Year award while lifting the Premier League trophy.
Portugal and Belgium were vying for a place in the quarter-finals on Sunday, with Italy awaiting in Munich for the winner.
Dias was almost Portugal’s saviour late in the second half, but his powerful header was well saved by Thibaut Courtois as Belgium held on for victory.
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EDEN HAZARD was forced off AGAIN as his rotten injury luck continued.The Belgium midfielder came off with three minutes to go of his country’s Euro 2020 last-16 win against Portugal.
Eden Hazard pulled up injured during Belgium’s victory over PortugalCredit: AFP
Hazard was dejected as he made his way off the pitchCredit: Getty
The Real Madrid man pulled up immediately and signalled to the bench that his game was up as he held his hamstring.
He was instantly replaced by Yannick Carrasco.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5Live, former England star Chris Waddle said: “He’s pulled his hamstring or he’s got cramp or something.
“His touch has been great. When he’s been out injured, maybe he should have gone out earlier. It might just be the tiredness.”
Hazard’s time at Real Madrid has been blighted by injuries ever since his club-record £130m move from Chelsea in 2019.
When he has recovered from these, the 30-year-old has found it difficult to reach full match fitness.
He started just SEVEN TIMES for Los Blancos last season after suffering repeated muscle injuries.
Hazard has made just 30 appearances out of a possible 76 in LaLiga in his two seasons in his underwhelming time in the Spanish capital.

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While this latest setback looks like a hamstring injury, it is his ankle that Hazard is most worried about.
Speaking before the Euros, the Belgian said: “I have broken my ankle three times and I don’t know whether it will ever be the same again.
“It will not be like it was ten years ago when I was starting out.
“I know if I am fighting fit exactly what I can do on the pitch and show what I am made of.
“But I have been injured a lot.”

Hazard also contracted coronavirus in November last year that saw him sent back to the sidelines.
There was some good news for Hazard as he saw younger brother Thorgan score the only goal of the game against Portugal.
The Borussia Dortmund winger cut inside and launched a swirling shot past Rui Patricio to book Belgium’s place in the quarter-final.
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IT was always going to take something special to upstage Cristiano Ronaldo and Kevin de Bruyne.And boy did Thorgan Hazard produce it.
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Belgium are into the last-eight of Euro 2020 after a 1-0 win against PortugalCredit: Reuters
Thorgan Hazard blasted the Belgians into the quarters as he downed PortugalCredit: AFP
Cristiano Ronaldo was powerless to stop the holders from being dethronedCredit: Rex
Thorgan Hazard struck a thunderbolt just moments before the breakCredit: Getty
Eden’s younger brother fired Belgium into the last eight with a shot straight from paradise.
His stunning first-half strike sent holders Portugal crashing out of Euro 2020 and reduced their superstar skipper Cristiano Ronaldo to tears.
But there were only tears of joy in the Belgian camp as they now face a quarter-final against Italy in Munich on Friday.
After spending the last 1,000 days ranked No1 in the world, Roberto Martinez’s men will now feel it is their time to deliver a major international trophy.
The former Wigan and Everton boss certainly looked the part as he stood on the edge of his technical area dressed to the nines in a smart royal blue suit with crisp white shirt and blue tie.
Only a Spaniard could wear a suit in 32c and remain ice cool.
But he would have been feeling the heat when Portugal had the first chance of the night as Renato Sanches played in Diogo Jota down the left channel.
But the Liverpool man’s shot across goal was awful, bobbling well wide of the target.

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All eyes were on Portugal’s 109-goal talisman Ronaldo – the joint-all time highest scorer in international football – as he chased the goal that would give him the record all to himself.
But the stats showed Ronaldo touched the ball just three times in the opening 10 minutes.
He then deserved an Oscar – or a place in the next series of Strictly – for the way he pirouetted to the floor after running into Thomas Meunier’s shoulder in a clear bid to earn the Belgian a foul, booking or both.
He went down as though he had been shot by Darcey Bussell.
But the crafty old winker was just having us on as he reminded us of the gold in his boots with one of his trademark thunderous free kicks which Belgium keeper Thibaut Courtois did well to block.
And as the half-hour mark approached Ronaldo back-heeled a 20-yard pass to a team-mate suggesting his storm was brewing.
But it was the Juventus superstar and his Portugal pals who were on the end of a bolt from the blue as Hazard junior collected a pass on the left from Meunier.
The Borussia Dortmund wideman took a touch inside before unleashing a 25-yard right footed drive that had plenty of draw on it as it curled away from the despairing reach of Rui Patricio in the Portugal goal.
Thorgan Hazard’s strike has now set-up a quarter-final clash with ItalyCredit: Getty
It was Thorgan’s second goal of the tournament and its importance was paramount.
With both of these titans inevitably failing to live up to the pre-match hype, the team who managed to get their noses in front were always going to have the advantage.
Belgium suffered a blow at the start of the second half De Bruyne had to be replaced by Dries Mertens after a rough challenge by Joao Palhinha.
They nearly suffered another when Ronaldo’s ball into the box found Jota, but once again the former Wolves man’s finishing let him down as he blazed his shot over from 12 yards.
As clocked ticked down, Portugal stepped up their efforts for an equaliser.
Ruben Dias had a bullet header from a corner fisted away by Courtois, who was then relieved to see Raphael Guerreiro’s shot smack the post before rebounding to safety.
Belgium had to defend for their lives – with striker Romelu Lukaku worthy of a special mention for the immense work he did ploughing the furrow up front – but when Danilo dragged his shot wide that was that.
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