EURO CUP I BELGIUM – PORTUGAL The night of the 'other' Hazard

La Cartuja is a stadium between two lands. Its southern half belongs to the capital, but the northern half belongs to the municipality of Santiponce, a place of pilgrimage for archaeologists because the ruins of Itálica still look majestic there. And in Italica, where several chapters of Game of Thrones were recently filmed, no less than two Emperors of Rome were born: Trajan and Hadrian, the first who acceded to the throne from far from the capital. The two ruled when no one expected, like Thorgan, the 'other' Hazard, capable of reigning in Seville over a constellation of stars, Belgians and Portuguese, for whom the chroniclers expected much more than him. Something more unknown than Eden, but nothing ashy because he plays nothing less than Borussia Dortmund, The Madridista's little brother puts a Belgium version more practical than brilliant in the quarter-finals, where Italy awaits him. Portugal resisted almost one half and struck in the other, but did not hit the net among other things because the usual one, Cristiano Ronaldo, did not appear.

Semedo and Danilo's physical problems They caused Fernando Santos to be forced to change the line-up that had most convinced everyone, the one that drew against France. In their place, he included Milan's right-winger Diogo Dalot, who in recent hours has been linked to Real Madrid, and to the pivot Palihnha, whose greatest guarantee could be summarized as being part of Monchi's agenda. Or it was, rather: after a great game that was scored in La Cartuja, it will cost the Sevilla sports director a lot of money to get him out of Sporting.

The thefts and the positioning of Palhinha supported the Portuguese ability to defuse the danger between the lines of De Bruyne and Eden Hazard, the latter prominent starter after another 90 minutes against Finland that they must have convinced Roberto Martínez. The Real Madrid player was in one of those games more fa than fu, few, that injuries and other physical issues have allowed him to play in his two years dressed in white. The first half was over and Belgium had not yet kicked dangerously when the other Hazard appeared: Thorgan. He started from the left, reached the edge of the area and sent a dry ball one of those who do not stop moving to end up in the net after Rui Patricio's desperation (1-0, 43 ').

Perhaps Portugal did not deserve that luck. Without fanfare, because it is a rather minimalist team, the Herois do Mar had threatened the Courtois area more appreciably than their rival. Diogo Jota, Dalot, Palhinha himself once benefited from the tremendous starts of Renato Sanchez, again illuminated, between the lines. But none of them hit all three suits. Only Cristiano, in the only notable action by the star before the break, had put the Real Madrid goalkeeper to the test in a foul.

The night reserved for Courtois a somewhat more decisive role. Forced by the result, Portugal collected in the second half Enough chances to get a draw against a fearful, hounded Belgium, already without De Bruyne due to an ankle injury. Cristiano connected with Diego Jota in the small area but his shot went high, Courtois rejected a point-blank header from Rubén Dias and Guerreiro sent a ball to the post with the Portuguese team thrown up into the open grave. But the 1-1 never came. Cristiano is going home. The Hazards, Thorgan the Emperor of Seville and Eden, follow. De Bruyne? We'll see how that ankle follows.