cr7 & Benzema
Karim Benzema with Cristiano Ronaldo
Euro 2020

Ronaldo and Benzema star as Portugal draw France

Ronaldo and Benzema scored a brace as the eventful match between France and Portugal ended in 2-2 at Budapest in the last games of the Euro 2020 group stage. Defending euro champions drew with world champions to qualify euro 2020 last 16 as one of the best third-placed team.

By Muhammed Shibin
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Portugal and France made history with their remarkable game in the European championship. This game becomes the first to see 3 penalities in a European championship. Portugal became the first team to score two penalties in a game, which makes France the first team to concede two penalties in a game.  The ‘Record Man’ Ronaldo became the first player to score two penalties in a game at the European championship. Benzema became the oldest player ever to score two goals for France in a major tournament.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 108th and 109th goals for Portugal and equaled with the record of Iran’s player Ali Daei. He became the European top scorer at major tournaments with 21 goals surpassing the record of Germany’s  Miroslav Klose’s record.

Moreover, he scored the most goals  in Euro championship history as he scored his 13th against France and leading the race for Euro 2020 golden boot with 5 goals in 3 matches.

For France, Benzema scored a brace and ends his 5 year-long droughts of international goals.  The last time he scored for France was on October 8, 2015.

Out of four goals produced, three of them came from spot-kick. Ronaldo netted 2 penalties as Benzema netted one.

The first half of the match ended with 1-1 as Ronaldo and Benzema found the back of the net in the spot-kick. Ronaldo scored his first goal in the 30th minute of the game after France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris smack Portugal midfielder, Danilo, on the face while challenging for a deep free-kick.  Ronaldo fired the ball into the bottom left corner and sent Lloris the wrong way.

Benzema scored his first goal of the tournament after Mbappe collides with Semedo inside the box while trying to get onto a chipped ball from Pogba. Benzema leveled the score for France in the second minute of extra time as he fired the ball into the left corner and sent Patricio the wrong way.

The second goal of Benzema came from an excellent through ball from Pogba two minutes into the second half. The Real Madrid man got away from Ruben Dias and fired it into the bottom left corner of the net.

Spanish referee Mateu Lahoz pointed his hand again to the spot after round outstretched his arm against Ronaldo’s cross. Portugal talisman stepped up again when his team needed and leveled the score again sending Lloris the wrong way.

The game was full of events as both teams shared the possession. It is not just the goal scorers, but each player puts their best in the game. Paul Pogba was on his majestic best here, he broke Portugal’s defense with his clinical through balls. He created three chances, his cross to Mbappe lead to the penalty in the first half, and  Benzema scored the second goal from his assist.

Rui Patricio, with back-to-back saves, showed his class after pushing away Pogba’s super shot from 25 yards, and an excellent stopping of Greizmann’s shot from the rebound.

Portugal started with some changes in the lineup. Santos played Renato Sanches and Joao Moutinho alongside Danilo Pereira in first eleven replacing Bruno Fernandes and William Carvalho.  Sanches took the center stage and helped in the attack and supported the defense as well. Palhinha who started in the second half had an impressive game with his vision which lacks in other midfielders of the team.

Deschamps will have to deal with injuries in defense as his defensive duo Lucas Digne and Lucas Hernandes suffering from injury. Hernandez substituted with Lucas Digne in the second half, but the Everton player only played 6 minutes and came out due to injury.

Diogo Dalot, who came recently into the squad after Jao Concelo ruled out due to covid 19, played his first game for  Portugal senior team yesterday against France

BROMANCE

Budapest witnessed a beautiful bromance yesterday. Karim Benzema and Cristiano ronaldo showed some beautiful gestures yesterday. The former Real Madrid teammates shared pair of cheeky smiles and they embraced after the first half.

The most beautiful moment happened after the French striker scored a goal against Portugal. Benzema, who ended his goal drought in the national team after 6 years, turned back after scoring and celebrated it with his former teammate. Ronaldo patted on his back and joined in his happiness.

They hugged each other and had a long conversation after the first half.

Benzema, who became the star of the match, revealed what they talked each other,

“It’s nice to see him again, we have come a long way together,” Benzema told reporters following a game in which he and Ronaldo both scored twice.

“We both played eight or nine years at Real Madrid, we scored goals, won trophies.

“We spoke, we wished each other good luck for the future with our clubs and in the tournament and especially to continue to have fun on the field and continue to make the difference.” He said

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What next?

Fernando Santos’s side will meet World number one Belgium and France will play against Switzerland in their last 16 knockout games.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Muhammed Shibin

Muhammed Shibin is a writer who is passionate about football and teaching

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