Cristiano Ronaldo scored two penalties to equal the all-time worldwide goalscoring report and assist holders Portugal edge into the final 16 of Euro 2020 with a 2-2 draw towards France in Budapest on Wednesday. Portugal will face the world’s top-ranked facet Belgium within the first knockout spherical in Seville on Sunday. Fernando Santos’ males moved by way of as one of many 4 finest third-placed sides, for the second straight Euro, from Group F behind France and Germany, who solely simply certified after a dramatic 2-2 draw with Hungary in Munich.
Ronaldo gave his facet the lead simply after the half-hour mark together with his first spot-kick, earlier than France hit again by way of Karim Benzema’s two objectives both facet of half-time.
However, with Portugal heading out because it stood with Hungary main Germany, Ronaldo helped win after which scored their second penalty with half an hour remaining.
The 36-year-old’s fifth aim of the group stage prolonged his report tally of Euro objectives to 14 and drew him degree with former Iran striker Ali Daei, in his 178th worldwide match.
World champions France will subsequent tackle Switzerland in Bucharest on Monday.
The primary actual likelihood of the sport fell to France ahead Kylian Mbappe after quarter of an hour, however the 22-year-old’s await a Euro aim was prolonged by Rui Patricio’s parried save.
But it surely was Portugal who made the breakthrough, as they have been awarded a Thirty first-minute penalty as France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris tried to punch the ball away, however as an alternative caught Danilo Pereira within the face, leaving the Portugal midfielder needing therapy on the pitch.
Ronaldo stepped as much as rating his fourth aim of the match, sending Lloris the fallacious approach.
VAR controversy
France drew themselves degree in controversial circumstances in first-half stoppage time.
Referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz gave a penalty after Mbappe collided with Nelson Semedo whereas making an attempt to get on the tip of a go into the field.
After a prolonged VAR examine, the choice stood regardless of vociferous protestations from the Portugal gamers.
Benzema, who had missed his final three penalties, made no mistake from the spot this time, scoring his first aim for France since October 2015, having been recalled for the match after a five-and-a-half yr exile over his alleged function in a blackmail scandal.
It was additionally the Actual Madrid striker’s first aim at a European Championship in his ninth match.
Unsurprisingly, Danilo was substituted at half-time after the blow to his head, with Sporting Lisbon’s Joao Paulinha taking his place.
France moved forward for the primary time shortly after the restart, although, as Paul Pogba’s wonderful go launched Benzema to fit in off the put up.
The linesman flagged the Frenchman offside, however a VAR examine overturned the choice.
France have been left with out a recognised left-back when Lucas Digne hobbled off six minutes after approaching on the interval for Lucas Hernandez, who was booked within the first half.
But it surely was right-back Jules Kounde who conceded the second spot-kick for a handball from Ronaldo’s cross, and the Juventus star stepped as much as degree the all-time report, with Lloris guessing incorrectly once more.
Portugal knew a defeat would ship them out if Hungary beat Germany, and so they wanted Patricio to make an exquisite double save halfway by way of the second half.
Pogba cleverly created area for a long-range strike which Patricio managed to claw onto the angle of put up and crossbar, with the Wolves ‘keeper getting up rapidly to dive and push away Antoine Griezmann’s follow-up effort.
Each groups pressed in the hunt for a winner, with Griezmann firing over.
Promoted
France had a penalty shout turned down in harm time regardless of one other lengthy VAR session, after Kingsley Coman went down underneath a problem by Bruno Fernandes, who was introduced on with 18 minutes to play after being ignored from the beginning.
However with the opposite match over in Germany, France knew a draw would put them by way of as group winners and that was the way it completed.
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