Euro 2020 Round-Up: Dutch Czech out as Belgium see off Portugal
Frank de Boer’s Netherlands were dumped out of Euro 2020 at the expense of a plucky Czech Republic in Budapest on Sunday evening.
The Dutch were frustrated by the Czech’s in the first-half before the game turned on its head early in the second-half after Matthijs De Ligt’s red card.
The former Ajax defender was adjudged to have denied a clear goalscoring opportunity – and after a VAR review – he was dismissed.
Matthijs de Ligt eventually did get his marching orders #NED#CZE#EURO2020#NEDCZE#rtesoccer
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Watch live - https://t.co/2W5kFtUgZEpic.twitter.com/A1G5TMQUNJ— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) June 27, 2021
That was the cue for Czech Republic to take control of the game with Tomas Holes heading home at the back post to give them a 68th minute lead.
Somehow Tomas Holes managed to squeeze it in to give the Czechs the lead in Budapest#NED#CZE#EURO2020#NEDCZE#rtesoccer
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) June 27, 2021
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Patrik Schick then scored his fourth goal of the tournament to seal the deal and condemn the Dutch to an early exit – and also heaping the pressure on De Boer.
Belgium also reached the last eight thanks to a 1-0 over Portugal in Seville.
Thorgan Hazard’s swerving strike arrowed itself into the back of the bet with Rui Patricio left bewildered by its movement.
Full-time: Belgium 1-0 Portugal.
Thorgan Hazard's first-half strike sees Belgium progress to a Euro 2020 quarter-final against Italy.#BEL 1-0 #POR#BELPOR#EURO2020#RTEsoccer
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— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) June 27, 2021
But the Belgians did have to withstand a Portuguese rally late on – but it was not enough to force extra-time as the Euro 2016 champions head home.
Euro 2020 Report: Belgium 1 - 0 Portugal https://t.co/WUFeqNL560pic.twitter.com/eDRmtmQEvd
— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) June 27, 2021