Wednesday June 23, 2021
Benzema also scores twice
Ronaldo’s double back brings Portugal forward
Four goals, three penalties, two shooters: France and Portugal split in a draw in the last group F group game. Benzema on the one hand and Ronaldo on the other get the hits. The Portuguese set two records.
Cristiano Ronaldo trudged to the fans after his world record struggled to the fans, the trembling game was still written in the face of the superstar: Thanks to a double pack by the superstar, defending champion Portugal has a hard-won 2: 2 (1: 1) against world champions France with oh and no Eighth finals reached. Until shortly before the end, Ronaldo and Co. threatened to end on an exciting evening.
The five-time world footballer Ronaldo (31./60.) Scored twice with penalties in front of 55,000 fans in Budapest. With that, CR7 made for new fable figures: The European Championship record scorer is now with five tournament hits and 14 goals in EURO finals in total. Above all, however, the 36-year-old set the Iranian Ali Daei’s world record with 109 international goals.
Returning Karim Benzema had put the French in the lead and Portugal in dire straits with a controversial penalty (45th + 2) and a low shot (48th). For the Real Madrid striker, who had not played a role in the national team for a long time due to a sextape scandal, it was the first goals for France in 2085 days. “I feel a lot of joy, a lot of pride,” said Benzema at beIN Sport: “I think everyone was waiting for it. There was a little pressure on me from all over the country. But I’m a football player, a professional, I need this pressure.”
It continues for Ronaldo and Co. on Sunday in Seville against Belgium. Group winners France will face Switzerland in Bucharest on Monday.
Santos turns starting eleven after Germany defeat
Portugal’s motto from the start was to prevent a defeat and thus a tremor until the end at all costs. Accordingly, Ronaldo and Co. went to work in the first minute and aggressively disturbed the stars of the Equipe Tricolore in midfield. A header from Ronaldo (6th) caused some danger in the intense and brisk game for the first time.
Four days after the clear 2: 4 against Germany, national coach Fernando Santos turned his starting line-up for the big goal. Ex-Munich-based Renato Sanches and Joao Moutinho came into play from the start, while Bruno Fernandes, who was disappointing recently, had to give way, as did William Carvalho.
When the news of the German team’s early deficit against Hungary made the rounds, it was loud for the first time in the fully occupied stadium. But while the many Hungarians celebrated in the stands, the Portuguese got nervous on the grass. Goalkeeper Patricio prevented an early deficit with a brilliant save against Mbappé (16th).
When the French were getting better into the game, Portugal took the lead. France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris missed the ball on a free-kick and instead caught Danilo Pereira with his fist. Ronaldo converted the due penalty powerfully into the left corner.
Klose record equalized
Shortly before the break, Mbappé ran into Nelson Semedo and fell a little awkwardly – the Spaniard Antonio Mateu Lahoz surprisingly showed the point. Benzema accepted the gift and met for his country for the first time since October 8, 2015. Shortly after the break, the striker even made it 2-1.
Because Germany was still behind, Portugal was eliminated at this point. Only a converted hand penalty from Ronaldo brought the Iberians back into the tournament. The star of Juventus Turin is the first footballer to score a total of 21 goals in world and European championships – two more than Miroslav Klose. In the exciting final phase Portugal continued to threaten defeat and the end, Patricio prevented the deficit with two brilliant saves (67th). In the end it was enough.
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