Roundup of the latest Round of 16 action on day 17 of Euro 2020 as Netherlands met Czech Republic and Belgium faced Portugal for places in the Quarter-Finals.
Having completely missed out on 2018 FIFA World Cup, Netherlands were looking to continue their return to the international stage as they faced Czech Republic in Budapest, Hungary, with the Czechs having only qualified as one of four best third-placed teams.
Belgium meanwhile looked to continue their status as serious title contenders as they took on Portugal in Seville, Spain, with the Portugese looking to continue their title defence.
Now here is a full round-up of both matches as the first pair of Quarter-Finals became clear.
Netherlands 0-2 Czech Republic
Tomas Holes almost opened the scoring in the second minute for Czech Republic but could only blast his long range shot wide, as the Netherlands soon afterwards dominated the attack but failed to create many clear-cut chances on goal.
Tomas Soucek and Patrik Schick wasted two chances for the Czechs six minutes apart as Soucek headed wide from Petr Sevcik’s 22nd minute cross, whilst Schick’s 28th minute curler was saved by Maarten Stekelenburg via deflection from Marten De Roon.
Both teams eventually traded chances in a goalless first half as Patrick Van Anholt missed a late chance after firing wide across goal from Memphis Depay’s short on-turn pass.
A scrappy restart exploded into life in the 52nd minute as Donyell Marten broke forward for the Netherlands but fumbled his shot as he rounded Tomas Vaclik who saved the loose ball.
Czech Republic immediately attacked up the other end in a game-changing moment as Schick found himself in a tussle with Matthijs De Light, with the latter clearing the ball with his left hand which initially forced a yellow card until VAR persuaded Sergey Karasev to upgrade the booking to a red card.
From that moment onwards, Jaroslav Silhavy’s Locomotives built momentum which paid off 16 minutes later as a second of two immediate corners found Tomas Kalas at left post to knock across for Holes to head in to put the Czechs ahead.
Despite a valiant response from Frank De Boer’s Dutch amidst various failed clear-cut chances, Czech Republic sealed victory in the 80th minute, as Holes charged forward up the left as he met a cross only to pull back for Schick to rifle into an empty net.
Czech Republic will now meet Denmark in Baku on Saturday 3rd July 2021 in the Quarter-Finals, with the prospect of a semi-final at stake.
Belgium 1-0 Portugal
A cagey start saw both teams slowly attempt to suss one another out with Portugal going closest first as Renato Sanches found Diogo Jota, who could only bend his shot wide of the bottom right corner in the sixth minute.
Eden and Thorgan Hazard then both missed chances for Belgium nine minutes apart before Sanches saw a 22nd minute strike for the reigning champions go wide.
Thomas Vermaelen conceded a 26th minute free-kick with a foul just outside the right corner of the box, with the resulting free-kick blocked until Joao Palhinha headed over from a rebound cross, with the Portugese wasting another chance just one minute later.
Thomas Meunier then curled wide in the 37th minute for Belgium who snatched the lead five minutes later as Thorgan Hazard rifled a sharply angled shot from Meunier’s pass into the bottom right corner beyond Rui Patricio’s reach.
Just before half-time, Palhinha committed a late tackle on Kevin De Bruyne from behind, which eventually forced the Belgian off just minutes into the second half despite attempting to restart the match.
Portugal thereafter launched constant waves of attacks throughout the second half with Jota firing wide from Ronaldo’s 58th minute pass, following an one-two move from the Juventus forward with Diogo Dalot.
Joao Felix three minutes later saw a header from Sanches’ cross denied before the latter saw two chances go begging in three minutes.
Pepe meanwhile was lucky to not see a red card for a dangerous on-turn foul of Romelu Lukaku as he struck the Belgian’s head with a high footed tackle, although Lukaku was able to continue and swung a 84th minute free-kick over the bar after drawing a foul from Sergio Oliveira on the counter-attack.
Belgium eventually clung on for victory to secure a fourth consecutive Quarter-Finals appearances in all major international tournaments and second consecutive Euros appearance in the last eight, as Portugal’s reign as European champions drew to a close.
Roberto Martinez’s Red Devils will now meet Italy on Friday 2 July 2021 in Munich as both teams chase a place in the last four at Wembley.
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