It was this Wednesday at Puskas Arenas a hectic match, full of tension and emotions, in which Portugal, the current European champion, passed, depending on the result and also the one that was taking place in Germany-Hungary ( at the end, 2-2), for all situations. First, second, third, fourth and therefore eliminated. Finally, a double by Karim Benzema and another by Cristiano Ronaldo (which allowed him to equal Iranian Ali Daei's record of 109 national team goals) left Portuga-France in another 2-2.
France, first in the group and world champion, will face Switzerland in the round of 16 and Portugal, third, no less than Belgium. Germany, second, has to face England and Hungary, despite the feat of drawing against France (1-1) and the Germans, they are going home. It was the outcome of the so-called ‘group of death’, the F.
In the first quarter of an hour France dominated, with a pressure that Portugal could not get rid of. Kylian Mbappé had the best chance of the world champions, a shot, from a pass from Paul Pogba, which was deflected by Rui Patricio, goalkeeper of the Portuguese team, becoming the savior of his team.
But, as the minutes passed, Portugal was taking control, with Renato Sanches and Joao Moutinho, novelties in the eleven of Fernando Santos, outstanding in the middle zone. And, in the 31st minute, a lateral free-kick from Moutinho ended in a penalty in favor of Portugal: Lloris came out to clear with his fists in front and knocked down Danilo.
Cristiano Ronaldo, as he did against Hungary, transformed the maximum penalty. With that goal, the Portuguese captain became the top scorer (20 'targets') in the history of the final stages of the Eurocup and the World Cup. With an advantage on the scoreboard, Portugal comfortably against a France that had lost control.
But then the Spanish referee Mateu Lahoz pointed out a penalty from Semedo to Mbappé (much protested by the players, but which the VAR ruled that it existed) that transformed Benzema into the discount of the first half. Since 2015 he did not score with France, due to his absence due to sanction.
Benzema himself took advantage of a great pass from a star Pogba to make it 1-2 with a low shot in 47. The VAR also intervened to rule out that there was offside. France was injured Lucas Digne, just entered. To Portugal, Semedo.
Another penalty saved Portugal, at the hand of Koundé (who acted as a right-back) in the 60th minute. CR7 did not fail, he is a “top scorer” of this European Championship with 5 goals and equaled Ali Daei's long-awaited record of 109 “targets” with his national team. Rui Patricio avoided with a great intervention that Pogba scored the third for France and repeated in a shot from Antoine Griezmann in the rebound.