It’s official: the European Championship holders are out.
Portugal suffered a 1-0 defeat against Belgium in the round of 16 at Euro 2020, which means that the trophy is completely ready.
The game was cheeky from the start, with the reigning champions trying to make life very difficult for their adventurous and creative opponents. However, the referee was unimpressed, and booked him for diving. 42 minutes into the game, Thorgan Hazard had to leave the pitch due to a knee injury.
Fantastic strike, but some of us were not convinced by goalie attempts to save the post driver …
Rui Patricio is one of the goalkeepers who is often assumed to be good but no one really knows why.
He has no distinctive attributes and concedes so many economical goals.
– ExpectedChelsea (@ExpectedChelsea) June 27, 2021
Rui Patricio for Portugal in the decisive round of 16 matches pic.twitter.com/qDEbs0ASS3
– Nikhil (@iNikhil) June 27, 2021
Do not be afraid of Portugal fans. There was still plenty of time to come back to this one. Selecao created some great chances and could have gone close with several free kicks in dangerous positions.
Unfortunately, the serial wall crusher Cristiano Ronaldo was on the bag.
“Ronaldo Territory”
Ronaldo’s last 50 free kicks in major tournaments. 50 shots. 1 goal. pic.twitter.com/XSln4y3lqC
– Oliver Hopkins (@oliver_hopkins) June 27, 2021
Goalkeepers when Ronaldo should take a free kick pic.twitter.com/q7SW7MEoj6
– Trollfotboll (@TrollFootball) 27 June 2021
Cristiano Ronaldo has the worst free-kick conversion rate in Serie A history.
This means that he is the worst free kick taker in 123 years of Italian top football. # EURO2020
– Jack Gallagher (@calciolovesjack) June 27, 2021
Commentators will continue to say “this is Cristiano territory” when Portugal gets a free kick even though Ronaldo has not been a reliable free kick since Obama’s first term.
– Zach Lowy (@ZachLowy) June 27, 2021
So we could not rely on Ronaldo for inspiration. We could not trust Kevin De Bruyne either, albeit for much more worrying reasons. The Manchester City star was hacked by Joao Palhinha, and the tackle was bad enough to force him off the pitch through injury.
Of course, we were all cleansed to lose one of the greatest players on the planet.
De Bruyne is so unlucky to hurt the man. He has had 14 of them since 2017
– ⚡️ ?? (@Priceless_Silva) June 27, 2021
What kind of match for Belgium and Kevin De Bruyne?
Get well soon crack? pic.twitter.com/NZ7hNYhsDw
– International Champions Cup (@IntChampionsCup) 27 June 2021
Kevin De Bruyne was knocked out of the Champions League final and has just left the pitch in a Euro 2020 R16 match after a tackle from behind. The teams have evolved, but the most talented players are still on a tightrope.
– Paul Hayward (@_PaulHayward) June 27, 2021
But then we all saw something that we very much prefer to see … needle! Of course, the Portuguese nutcracker Pepe was in the center and picked up a yellow card. He was probably disappointed that it did not actually escalate further.
Pepe when he gets a yellow card? pic.twitter.com/BXXJrVOlgk
– ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 27, 2021
Pepe to the judge after almost killing someone pic.twitter.com/n72M1D8E9g
– Mo? (@ AFC_Mo24) June 27, 2021
Pepe is a bastard, you already know he was the kid who ate glue at school.
– Dubois (@CFCDUBois) June 27, 2021
if pepe was not a football player he would be in jail
– hanad (@HlGHKAY) June 27, 2021
Pepe when Portugal loses pic.twitter.com/WC7PvG0Nwe
– Cameron Wanstall (@CameronWanstall) June 27, 2021
In the middle of all the fighting, filth and argumentation, the football game ended. Belgium stuck to the 1-0 victory thanks to the post, heroism from Thibaut Courtois and some stoic defense.
There is literally no goalkeeper in the world who is better than Courtois. We’re on top. pic.twitter.com/FSXpkj0UDd
– ??? ???? (@EleModric) June 27, 2021
Courtois in big games pic.twitter.com/bHfZs2j2sD
– Ќ (@gloryxrm) June 27, 2021
For Ronaldo and Portugal, it was the end of the road. The legendary forward looked furious full-time, probably frustrated that he could not break the record for the most international goals in history when he played at the European Championships.
? Cristiano and Lukaku share a moment of respect at FT. pic.twitter.com/hSypGMcU97
– TCR. (@TeamCRonaldo) June 27, 2021
Everyone said that Ronaldo would carry in the euro by players like Dias and Bruno. In the end, it was Ronaldo or none.
– ????. (@GreatWhiteNueve) June 27, 2021
Do not worry, it comes in the form of a penalty against Andorra or something. And finally, save a thought for Joao Felix, who (unfortunately for him) appeared on Roy Keane’s radar.
? Roy Keane on Joao Felix:
“He is a fraud. Achieve the goal, what is he, £ 100 million? If I were Ronaldo, I’d follow him in the locker room! ”
?? pic.twitter.com/iHq3Y6lmAT
– Footy Accumulators (@FootyAccums) June 27, 2021
