BOXSCORE: BUDAPEST (June 15, 2021) – The first match of the day saw a fantastic Portuguese generation, combined with the legend that is Ronaldo, show once again that the defending European champions areable to overcome schedule difficulties and continue to find ways to win – and win convincingly.
Hungary started the game in the Catenaccio, chain style, of Italian coach Marco Rossi with a defensive line of five defenders with even the two strikers, Attila Szalai and Rolland Sallai, provide man-marking in Portugal’s midfield. Fernando Santos opted for two double-pivot players as defensive ones in Danilo and William Carvalho.
Even with the clearest chances in the first half, overall Portugal lacked creativity and when the game was appearing to be heading towards a draw, Santos decided to put the UEFA Euro 2016 talisman and Golden Boy Renato Sanches in the place of William to bring creativity to the game.
The move paid off and in one of his speed runs, together with Rafa Silva, the ball reached left defender Raphael Guerreiro and his who was able to convert past Peter Gulacsi who minutes earlier made a fantastic save on Bruno Fernandes’ shot.
Minues later Sanches would bring even more havoc by dribbling past three Hungarian who let Rafa enter the area resulting in a penalty kick converted by Ronaldo. The goal-giving the Portuguese legend a record 10th goal – one more than Michel Platini’s record nine The Five Top Goals Scorers in UEFA Euros History (boxscorenews.com)
In the dying minutes of the match, another play by Rafa, Ronaldo, and Sanches allowed the Portuguese genius to score a vital third goal giving Ronaldo 11 goals in the European Championships and counting putting him as the top scorer of the tournament.
Portugal 3-0 Hungary
Goals: Guerreiro 84′, Ronaldo 87′ (pk), 90+2′
Puskás Arena, Budapest – HUN
Referee: Cüneyt Çakır – TUR
YC: Rubén Dias – Orban, Négo
Portugal (4-2-3-1) – Rui Patrício – Semedo, Pepe, Rúben Dias, Guerreiro – Danilo, William (Renato Sanches) – Bernardo (Rafa Silva), Bruno Fernandes (João Moutinho), Ronaldo (c) – Diogo Jota (André Silva)
Coach: Fernando Santos
Hungary (5-1-2-2) – Gulacsi – Lovrencsics, Botka, Orban, At.Szalai, Fiola (K.Varga) – Nagy – Kleinheisler (Siger), Schäfer (Négo) – Ad.Szalai (c), Sallai (Schön)
Coach: Marco Rossi – ITA
Man of the Match – Cristiano Ronaldo – POR
Despite hosting France in Munich, the current World Champions showed why they are miles better than the current German team are the favorites to win the competition. The French midfield dominated as Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kanté allowed the trio of Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe, and Karim Benzema the freedom to create.
A fantastic pass by Pogba to Lucas Hernandez resulted in a Mats Hummels own goal.
Germany didn’t manage much of an attack all game long being fully dominated by the French style, which could have easily been 2-0 or 3-0 by goals by Mbappé and Benzema were overturned by VAR.
Today’s effort by the French showed not only the technical superiority of France and a Euro heavyweight.
France 1-0 Germany
Goal: Hummels 29′ (og)
Allianz Arena, Munich – GER
Referee: Carlos del Cerro Grande – ESP
YC: Kimmich
France (4-1-2-1-2) – Lloris (c) – Pavard, Varane, Kimpembe, Hernández – Kanté – Rabiot (Dembélé), Pogba – Griezmann – Mbappé, Benzema (Tolisso)
Coach: Didier Deschamps
Germany (3-4-2-1) – Neuer (c) – Ginter (Volland), Hummels, Rüdiger – Kimmich, Gündogan, Kroos, Gosens (Can) – Havertz (Sané), Müller – Gnabry (Werner)
Coach: Joachim Löw
Man of the Match: Paul Pogba – FRA
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