Czechs choose Holes in Dutch defence at Euro 2020 as Belgium face Portugal

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The Czech Republic ended the Euro 2020 desires of a 10-man Netherlands facet on Sunday earlier than Cristiano Ronaldo and holders Portugal confronted Belgium in a blockbuster last-16 tie.

The Netherlands travelled to Budapest for his or her last-16 showdown with the Czechs filled with optimism after impressing within the group stage, however they had been undone by second-half objectives from Tomas Holes and Patrik Schick.

Within the warmth of the Hungarian capital, the tie swung on two moments early within the second interval that went towards Frank de Boer’s crew.

Donyell Malen was denied by Tomas Vaclik after bursting via and discovering himself with simply the Czech goalkeeper to beat after which Netherlands centre-back Matthijs de Ligt was despatched off after a VAR overview for a deliberate handball.

Holes opened the scoring within the 68th minute after Tomas Kalas headed a free-kick again throughout aim, and the 28-year-old Slavia Prague midfielder then made the clinching second aim with 10 minutes left, pouncing on a free ball and breaking via to arrange Schick.

It was Schick’s fourth aim of the European Championship up to now and the Czech Republic, ranked fortieth on the earth, now undergo to a quarter-final towards Denmark in Baku subsequent Saturday, July 3.

“We would not be large stars just like the Dutch however we confirmed nice crew spirit and that’s what made the distinction,” mentioned Schick.

Denmark secured their place within the final eight with a complete 4-0 win over Wales in Amsterdam on Saturday earlier than Italy joined them by beating Austria 2-1 after further time at Wembley.

In the meantime the inquest will start within the Netherlands as their first look at a significant event because the 2014 World Cup ends in disappointment after some promising shows within the group part.

Dutch captain Georginio Wijnaldum admitted that De Ligt’s purple card “made issues tougher” however accepted that they had didn’t construct on their good earlier outcomes.

“They’d given us confidence, however that makes this defeat extra painful. We did not present sufficient,” mentioned the previous Liverpool midfielder.

Because the 1988 Euro winners return residence, the reigning continental champions had been seeking to hold their hopes of back-to-back titles alive in Sunday’s late sport towards Belgium.

– New document for Ronaldo? –

The 2 nations boast nothing just like the populations of Europe’s main nations however on the sphere they’re real powerhouses and got here into Euro 2020 among the many favourites to elevate the trophy.

Belgium, the world’s top-ranked nationwide crew, received all three group video games whereas Portugal considerably stuttered into the final 16 after shedding closely to Germany.

The match in Seville pitches Belgian stars like Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard towards a proficient Portuguese facet led by Ronaldo.

The 36-year-old wants one aim to develop into the all-time high scorer in worldwide soccer after equalling the mark of 109 set by Iran’s Ali Daei within the 2-2 draw with France in Budapest on Wednesday.

“He is a phenomenon. He is working exhausting and coaching on a regular basis and what he is carried out up to now, he deserves and perhaps he can play till he is 40 years outdated,” mentioned Belgium defender Jan Vertonghen.

“He is the most important participant within the historical past of Portugal and we’ve got to respect that, and I respect him loads, but it surely’s not Belgium towards Ronaldo, it is Belgium towards Portugal they usually have a number of good gamers.”

– Larger crowd in Bucharest –

The tie is among the two standouts within the final 16 together with England’s assembly with outdated rivals Germany in London on Tuesday.

England might be searching for their first win over the Germans in a knockout match at a significant event because the 1966 World Cup closing, one thing their supervisor Gareth Southgate tried to minimize on Sunday.

“I need not demystify it. The historical past is an irrelevance to them,” he mentioned of his gamers.

On Monday the World Cup holders France might be anticipated to see off their neighbours Switzerland when the groups conflict in Bucharest, the place native authorities have elevated the variety of followers allowed in.

As much as 25,000 supporters might be permitted contained in the Nationwide Area within the Romanian capital, amounting to half the general capability as Covid-19 restrictions are relaxed.

Monday’s earlier match will see 2018 World Cup runners-up Croatia sort out 2008 and 2012 European champions Spain in Copenhagen.

Croatia might be with out Ivan Perisic, certainly one of their key gamers, after he turned the most recent star on the event to check constructive for coronavirus.

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