A goal by Dortmund professional Thorgan Hazard tore a long tough game out of lethargy – and paved Belgium’s way to the quarter-finals of the European Championship. His fluttering violent shot from the final phase of the previously extremely uneventful first half of Seville was not only the first victory for the Belgians after five games without a triumph against the now dethroned defending champion, but also a ticket to Munich. Belgium meets Italy there. The only downer: coach Roberto Martínez may have to do without the injured offensive players Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) and Eden Hazard (Real Madrid).
When the city’s 125 Catholic churches called to mass in the morning, the weather seemed to want to meet the interests of the Belgians. The sky was overcast like only in Brussels. During the day, however, the sun broke through the clouds and drove people to the city’s pools. The game began, after all, when the sun was gone again. But that didn’t change the fact that both teams began the game as if they were strolling with a cigar between the index and middle fingers.
At least that was what their demeanor looked like, and it was hard to tell whether that was really part of the plans of the two coaches or was due to the fact that both teams were well separated and hardly allowed any space. In terms of the layout, the Portuguese were more interested in lulling the game to sleep – only to then strike. Surprisingly, quickly, consistently. That only seldom succeeded, however, only once in the first half when former Bayern professional Renato Sanches won a midfield duel against Youri Tielemanns and used Diogo Jota on the left. The Liverpool striker, however, moved away.
More dangerous was a free kick from record accumulator Cristiano Ronaldo from a tight angle (22nd minute), which Real Madrid’s Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois parried with difficulty, but ultimately brilliantly. From the Belgians, however, nobody really took notice until Dortmund’s Thomas Meunier pulled the ball on goal from 20 meters from the right with his outer instep and sank the ball almost in the left outer corner. And of course, until Thorgan Hazard surprised Portugal goalkeeper Rui Patrício with a cocked shot and gave Belgium the lead in the 42nd minute.
Kevin De Bruyne has to go out injured
The joy of it did not last long. Shortly before the break, Palinha not only kicked Belgian Kevin De Bruyne from behind – he pinched his lower leg with both legs. De Bruyne doubled over in pain. Felix Brych, who previously could have shown a mild yellow in a duel between Palinha and Belgian striker Lukaku, left it with a warning. After the restart, De Bruyne only lasted two minutes.
Pack formation towards the end – of course with Portugal’s Pepe (number 3).
(Photo: JULIO MUNOZ / AFP)
That changed the dynamics of the game from the ground up. The Belgians fell behind, basically copying the Portuguese orientation from the first half. European champion coach Fernando Santos, on the other hand, changed offensive and imaginative players: Bruno Fernandes and João Félix, later also Frankfurt’s André Silva. But the yield was meager. After a preliminary work by Ronaldo brimming with will, Diogo Jota shot over the goal from eleven meters (58th). This increased the nervousness of the Portuguese, and ultimately led to the fact that the only partially sovereign German referee slipped the game almost completely.
Pepe makes his appearance towards the end
And very much that Portugal’s central defender Pepe made an appearance that reminded of his old days, when he achieved world fame as a predator. Because Thorgan Hazard continued to play, although the game was interrupted, Pepe not only let the Belgian run up, he also rammed his elbow under his chin.
Then the Portuguese came up with opportunities. After a corner Rubén Dias headed the ball on goal, goalkeeper Courtois made a strong save (81st). Then Dortmund’s Raphael Guerreiro hit the post from 18 meters. Hazard had to be replaced, his thigh pinched. In the end, the only consolation was that the win in stoppage time, defended in a bitter defensive battle, was only endangered by a narrow shot from long range from João Félix – and yet remained in the hands of the Belgians.