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regular-article-logo Friday, 19 April 2024

Euro 2020: Ronaldo surpasses Platini, France beat Germany

Portugal captain becomes top goalscorer in the history of Euros. A Mats Hummels own goal gifts Les Bleus an opening win in the tournament

Our Bureau Published 16.06.21, 09:30 AM
Cristiano Ronaldo in action against Hungary on Tuesday.

Cristiano Ronaldo in action against Hungary on Tuesday. Facebook/Euro 2020

The wait is over. Cristiano Ronaldo has finally gone past Michel Platini, becoming the all-time leading goalscorer in European Championship finals. The Portugal captain, who scored a late brace against a gritty Hungary, now has 11 Euro goals in his kitty in comparison with Platini's nine. Portugal won 3-0 in front of a 67,000 crowd at the Ferenc Puskas Stadium. Ronaldo’s international goals tally now stands at 106, and he is only three behind Iran’s Ali Daei (109).

Hungary stuck to their guns throughout the match, keeping the Portugal attack at bay, but they soon lost the plot as Raphael Guerreiro scored in the 84th minute. Then Ronaldo took centre stage and scored one from the spot, and another in stoppage time. Adjudged the best player, Ronaldo has also equalled Andreas Iniesta’s record of most man of the match awards (6) at Euro finals.

Portugal coach Fernando Santos said a tactical tweak, coupled with timely substitutions, helped the defending champions sink an otherwise plucky Hungary. “In the second half... we were a bit anxious as the clock was ticking and we wanted to win," Santos told reporters. "I started subbing in some players to increase the pace of the game. I moved Ronaldo to the left a bit and released Raphael because I thought he wasn't getting close to the goal. He played a great game... so we let him move inside. Sometimes you get things right and sometimes you don't get them right, but we always strive for the best. The players that came on did very well, and the ones that went off also did well,” said Santos.

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Portugal next face heavyweights Germany on June 19, followed by a clash with France on June 23.

Mats Hummels helps France win

A Mats Hummels own goal in the 20th minute was enough for France to bag three points, winning their opening clash 1-0 versus Germany at the Allianz Arena. The scoreline could have been more in favour of the 2018 World Cup champions, but Kylian Mbappe and Karim Benzema’s goals in the second half were ruled offside. Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot had also hit the post.

But coach Didier Deschamps is quite content with what happened in Munich. “We played a great game against very good opponents. I knew my players would be ready and we were up for the fight. We weren't far away from scoring the second goal that would have made us safe, but we didn't suffer that much in the second half. It was a strong match with quality and talent,” he told M6 after the game.

Paul Pogba, who was adjudged man of the match for his marvellous pass that resulted in a German own goal, believes teamwork was key. “We're focused on our jobs on the pitch. We know we need to live up to our tag as world champions and come out on to the pitch with humility. When we need to suffer, we do it together and when we attack, we do it together,” he said.

France, who are behind Portugal in the Group F standings on goal difference, next lock horns with Hungary on Saturday.

Tonight's matches:

Finland vs Russia (6:30 pm IST)
Krestovsky Stadium

Turkey vs Wales (9:30 pm IST)
Baku Olympic Stadium

Italy vs Switzerland (12:30 am IST, Thursday)
Stadio Olympico

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