Euro 2020: early exit for Portugal as Netherlands are dumped out by Czech Republic

Portugal set out to defend their European Championship title with a far better squad than five years ago in France but this time they ultimately proved less adept at chasing games than grinding out results. Fernando Santos’ side bowed out of the tournament earlier than they would have liked in losing 1-0 to Belgium in the last-16 but they did not go out quietly, peppering Thibaut Courtois’ goal with shots until the end and hitting the post. Yet they lacked a cutting edge which might have disappointed fans given the assortment of world stars they had on the pitch, including Manchester United talisman Bruno Fernandes, €126-million man Joao Felix and Cristiano Ronaldo. As in their 4-2 defeat to Germany in the group stage, they were incapable of finding their way back into the game and mainly resorted to hopeful long-range efforts, only troubling Courtois a couple of times despite having 23 shots. Italy see off battling Austria to join Denmark in quarter-finals Critics can certainly point the finger at Santos, a reactive coach who built his reputation in international football by helping Greece punch above their weight. After leading Portugal to their first major trophy with often cagey tactics and astute game management, his side never really took a step forward and looked uncomfortable once they were no longer the underdogs. They also seemed to lack the unity and work rate of their predecessors, as Santos alluded to after the heavy defeat to Germany when he remarked: “That was not the Portugal we all know”. Pepe, one of the few surviving members of the Euro 2016 side, latched on to a similar theme when he said: “We need to be what we have always been, a combative team which plays with solidarity”. Uefa vetoes illuminating Munich stadium in rainbow colours at Euro 2020 football match In the Euro 2020 group stage alone, Portugal conceded more goals than in their victorious Euro 2016 campaign. But to be fair to Santos, his side was given a far harder draw this time around, meeting the last two world champions in France and Germany in group F in addition to gritty Hungary. They could only finish third and had to face Belgium, who 2018 World Cup semi-finalists and ranked No 1 in the world. Their unforgiving path contrasted with 2016, when they met Iceland, Austria and Hungary in their group and then faced Poland, Croatia and Wales in the knockout stage before riding their luck in the final to beat hosts France 1-0 in extra-time. Their winning goal in Paris was a hit-and-hope shot from Eder and five years on in Seville, the shoe was on the other foot as Thorgan Hazard’s piledriver proved the difference, ending Portugal’s reign as European champions. Many of the players who fell short here will get another chance at next year’s World Cup in Qatar and Santos will hope they will be wiser from the experience and better equipped to break down teams as good as them. Earlier on Sunday, team spirit helped the Czech Republic secure a surprise 2-0 win over the Netherlands in their last-16 clash despite them being sloppy at times in attack, coach Jaroslav Silhavy said. Tomas Holes and Patrik Schick scored second-half goals to take the Czechs into the quarter-finals with a deserved victory over a Dutch side that topped their group with three wins. “I have no words,” Silhavy said. “When the final whistle was coming, we said ‘we did it’. “This opposition was very strong but we managed wonderfully. We were sometimes sloppy in attack, but the team spirit prevailed again.” The Czechs will now face Denmark in Baku on Saturday, turning around their Euro 2020 fortunes having only reached the knockout phase after finishing third in their group. Paul Gascoigne, Euro 96 and the Hong Kong Dentist’s Chair – where are they now? Silhavy praised the team’s effort, while singling out goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik, who made a superb one-on-one save to deny Donyell Malen, and midfielder Holes, who scored one and created another in a man-of-the-match display. “Each match must have some extraordinary performances and today we had ones from Vaclik and Holes,” Silhavy said. “I believe working as a team we can surprise Denmark and go further.” The Czechs were forced to make a number of changes for the match with defender Jan Boril ruled out through suspension and captain Vladimir Darida missing the encounter due to injury. Yet the support of thousands of Czech fans in the crowd provided them with a big boost. “The atmosphere was fantastic,” Silhavy said. “We had goose bumps coming on to the pitch.”

Euro 2020: early exit for Portugal as Netherlands are dumped out by Czech Republic

Portugal’s defence of their European Championship title ends at the last-16 stage Czech Republic’s love affair with the continental competition goes on as they progress to quarter-finals again

Portugal’s defence of their European Championship title ends at the last-16 stage

Czech Republic’s love affair with the continental competition goes on as they progress to quarter-finals again