SEVILLE, June 28

Belgium knocked defending champions Portugal out of Euro 2020 with a 1-0 victory in the last-16 on Sunday to set up a mouth-watering quarterfinals tie against Italy.

A 43rd-minute strike from Thorgan Hazard secured the win for Roberto Martinez’s team, who survived plenty of pressure from the Portuguese in the second half. But with the finishing touch missing, it was the end of the road for Cristiano Ronaldo and a Portugal team who had triumphed in Paris five years ago.

Ronaldo bows out with five goals from four games, and is currently the tournament’s top scorer. Yet it remains to be seen if the 36-year-old will return for a sixth Euros in Germany in 2024 or if the competition’s all-time top scorer will bow out of national team duty after the Qatar World Cup next year.

Belgium were among the pre-tournament favourites but this was a stodgy and uninspired display and they will need to raise their game significantly if they are to get past Roberto Mancini’s Azzurri who are unbeaten in 31 matches.

Thorgan Hazard’s fine goal was their only effort on target in the whole 90 minutes and there was little invention or flair from their midfield.

“In the first half we were playing high and putting pressure on Portugal, but looking at that second half, we are lucky to win,” said Belgium defender Thomas Vermaelen.

Earlier, 10-man Netherlands were ousted by Czech Republic after a 2-0 win. — Reuters

Let past remain in past is England’s mantra

London: Coach Gareth Southgate said England’s past defeats to Germany at major tournaments have no bearing on tomorrow’s Euro 2020 last-16 game and his players will go into the match focused on their own performance. England have not defeated Germany in the knockout match of a major tournament since the 1966 World Cup final, losing at the 1990 World Cup, 1996 Euros and 2010 World Cup, the first two defeats coming after shootouts in the semifinals. Southgate, who missed the crucial spot-kick in their Euro 96 loss, said history meant little to his young squad. “I don’t need to demystify it. The history is an irrelevance for them,” Southgate told ITV Sport. England have never won a knockout match over 90 minutes at the Euros. Four of their knockout stage games went to shootouts and England progressed only once — against Spain at Wembley at in 1996. Reuters