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You are here: Home / Sports / Euro 2020 Football (Soccer) / Euro 2020 Round of 16 Open Thread: Belgium v Portugal

Euro 2020 Round of 16 Open Thread: Belgium v Portugal

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From what I can see, both very strong teams — so I guess this should be an exciting match?

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55Comments

  2. 2.

    Tony Jay

    Tricky one this. Belgium have the better team with more outstanding players, but they also have it in them to completely flub their lines. Portugal have a lot of good players, a contender for GOAT leading them, and a talent for grinding out wins (see, 2016 Euros) but against really top teams on top form they can look out of ideas.

    I wouldn’t be surprised to see Cristiano’s boys edge this

    ETA – Of course, with Jota in a Portugese shirt  I have to back them.

  3. 3.

    eclare

    I have a hard time cheering for either team.  Guess I will follow a friend’s advice, cheer for the hotter guys.

  4. 4.

    Tony Jay

    The Belgians seem content to let the Portuguese have the ball and try to break when they can, or else the Portuguese just won’t let them have the ball.

    Either way, hardly a sniff from Belgium’s attacking players.

  5. 5.

    Leto

    @Tony Jay: maybe the Belgians are taking a page from Ali and playing rope-a-dope with the Portuguese? If they don’t change something, they’re going to join their Orange neighbors

    Edit: as I type that, Belgium counters and Lukaku basically gave a piggy back ride to the defender for about 10 yards. Time for the ref to get new contacts.

  12. 12.

    Amir Khalid

    The BBC’s liveblog:

    Posted at 3:423:42
    GOAL – Belgium 0-0 Portugal
    Thorgan Hazard
    LIFT OFF! NOW WE’RE TALKING!
    Article Reactions

    Well, I was amused.

  13. 13.

    Leto

    US commentators calling Thor Hazard “Hazard Junior”, here we have “lesser” and “Other”… I’m waiting for “Hazard Lite” to emerge. Or just something really catchy as we seem to be still searching for the right moniker. :P

  15. 15.

    LeftCoastYankee

    The US studio commentators keep repeating this weird meme that this is Belgium’s last chance to win a trophy with this group.

    I’m guessing another network is broadcasting next year’s World Cup?

    Looking forward to a fun second half.

  18. 18.

    Another Scott

    In other sportsball news, the Red Sox are continuing to beat up on the Yankees.  8:2 at the moment.  Bottom of the 8th.

    Good, good.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  19. 19.

    Leto

    @LeftCoastYankee: this group of players was thought of as a golden generation that was capable of winning multiple titles (European Championships/World Cups). In reality they didn’t live up to those lofty expectations. For most of the players, this is the last chance to win a European title as most of them probably won’t be on the team in 4 years.

  20. 20.

    Amir Khalid

    @Leto:
    As Omnes says, it should be Hazard minor, since Thorgan is the younger brother of Eden Hazard. It’s an understandable error for an American, since this English public-school usage is not a thing in the US. But if you do want to use it, no matter where you are you need to get it right.

  21. 21.

    laura

    @HumboldtBlue: let’s go Giants!⚾️ Battle of the Bay on a glorious day in the most beautiful ballpark in all of major league. I hope it’s as spirited as last night’s game.

  23. 23.

    billcinsd

    @LeftCoastYankee: Well their defense (Alderweireld, Vermaelen and Vertonghen) is to the age at which players often fall off the cliff physically and the younger ones (Boyata, Denayer) have not really developed into the same level of player. If one of the better defenders does a full Hummels they likely would struggle.

  27. 27.

    LeftCoastYankee

    @Leto: ​
     

    That makes sense as far as considering the European championship. And the WC is actually is more like 18 months away than “next year” as I said. Still, I’d expect (hope?) that to be more of a “last hurrah” for this group.

  28. 28.

    Mo Salad

    I want Eden Hazard to have some kind of Ryan Giggs type scandal so that we can refer to Thor as Moral Hazard.

  31. 31.

    Tony Jay

    @Mo Salad:

    Well, considering the nature of the scandal Ryan Giggs was best known for before this latest scandal, I’d guess that Thor would definitely rather give this whole idea a miss. 8-)

  32. 32.

    Mo Salad

    @Tony Jay: I realized that after I posted it. I would suspect that if there were a third non-footballer Hazard, that they would be the one in jeopardy.

  35. 35.

    Tony Jay

    Ah, Pepe. The dictionary definition of ‘Shithousery’ has a big old picture of your boggle-eyed grid splashed across the page.

    And nice to see Bruno Fernandes proving once again why scientists at the CERN facility so value his ankles as the only instrument in the universe sensitive enough to register the presence of quantum tackles.

    Jota has gone off, I can say all this now.

  36. 36.

    Mo Salad

    The ref has lost control of this one. If Belgium get a second, it is going to get ugly.

  37. 37.

    HumboldtBlue

    @Tony Jay: ​ 

    And nice to see Bruno Fernandes proving once again why scientists at the CERN facility so value his ankles as the only instrument in the universe sensitive enough to register the presence of quantum tackles.

    He’s so fucking annoying, the little cheat.

  39. 39.

    Tony Jay

    This has turned into the kind of game you want extra time in. Tempers flaring, feet flying, Pepe’s face such an inviting target.

    Oh yeah, the winner here gets Italy. That’ll be a game!

  44. 44.

    Leto

    Belgium had so many chances to score a second, but quoting Kirk here (from ST: Wrath of Khan): “but like a poor marksman you keep missing the target.”. Oh well, Belgium v Italy next Friday.

  46. 46.

    Tony Jay

    @HumboldtBlue:

    Aye. Thing about Ronaldo, though. Sooooo much about him does my head in, but I have to give him this: he’s been Messi’s only genuine challenger in the World’s Greatest Player stakes for the best part of a decade because, skill aside, he’s worked at it harder than anyone else. Guy’s a relentless machine.

  49. 49.

    JML

    @Mo Salad: agree that the ref lost control of this one, and there were some bad moment in the close.

    Also, that field looked like trash, especially in the second half. Trying recall the last major tournament where you had something like that. Rough look.

    Happy for Belgium, I’m sick of Christiano Reynaldo and his whiny smug face. Helathy, Belgium v Italy is a cracking matchup. Hope Belgium can get right in time!

  50. 50.

    LeftCoastYankee

    @laura:

    I actually caught that game last night, great game.  The crowd was sprinkled with A’s and Giants fans sitting together, and everyone seemed so freaking giddy to be there together watching good ball.

    And I was extremely jealous of the weather there….

  51. 51.

    Morzer

    Looks like Italy are going to get lucky in the quarters. Belgium were quite unconvincing and have probably lost their best player. Glad Portugal lost.

  52. 52.

    billcinsd

    @JML:Also, that field looked like trash, especially in the second half. Trying recall the last major tournament where you had something like that.

    Well, Budapest has had many games despite the UEFA investigation. Almost like they value money more than anything else

  53. 53.

    burnspbesq

    @Tony Jay:

    Both Messi and Ronaldo are past their sell-by dates.

    There are cases to be made for DeBruyne and Neuer, but for my money right now N’Golo Kante is the best player in the world.

  54. 54.

    Cheryl from Maryland

    @Leto: I was watching the Men’s World Cup game of US vs Belgium in a rowdy bar in Queens.  When Belgium won, a guy yelled “Fuck Waffles” and ran out.

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