Summary
There are many reasons why today wasn’t all about Ronaldo. Hungary were magnificent for the first two thirds of the game: Gera scored an amazing goal, Dzsudzsak was probably the best player on the pitch up until that point, and not just because he scored twice. Indeed Quaresma and Renato Sanches were brilliant when they came on for Portugal, too.
But there are lots of reasons why it was all about Portugal’s No7. He provided a brilliant assist for Nani’s goal, and scored two of his own - the first a flick that only HIM (and Kanu) could score, the second a bullet header that gave Kiraly no chance.
But we also saw a bad side to Ronaldo. His free-kicks continue to be woeful. He cut a frustrated figure when his team-mates didn’t give him the ball. He didn’t shake the hands of the Hungarian players. Still, Portugal’s tournament still very much depends upon which Ronaldo shows up in the last 16 - they remain a formidable force when in top gear, as they were in the second half.
Thanks for reading, and for your emails and tweets. See you next time. Bye!
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Final Group F standings:
Final Group F Standings:
— Sam Ficarro (@samfic96) June 22, 2016
1) #HUN 5 pts +2 (WINS GROUP)
2) #ISL 5 pts +1 (ADVANCES)
3) #POR 3 pts 0 (ADVANCES)
4) #AUT 1 pt -3 (ELIMIANTED)
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Iceland have just scored against Austria in the last minute! That means they leapfrog Portugal into second place. Portugal will still qualify as one of the best third-placed team, but England will now play Iceland in the last 16!
Full-time: Hungary 3-3 Portugal
The best match of the tournament comes to a close.
90+2 min: Remarkably, we have a lull. Both teams are doing nothing. Nemeth just watching both Carvalhos exchange passes on the half-way line.
90 min: Three minutes added on here. It seems both teams have settled for a goal. Perhaps that paper note were just details about the current group standings. Portugal, remember, are currently second, and will play England in the last 16 if it stays like this.
89 min: Ronaldo is fouled 40 yards from goal, and thumps his effort into the crowd. The whole debacle of him setting up for that set-piece takes maybe 90 seconds. It’s a waste of a chance and of time. Not what Portugal need at this stage.
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87 min: Remember half of these players are not normally starters for Hungary. They may have Lampard-ed two deflected goals past Rui Patricio but for 75 minutes, they matched Portugal. Now, can they hang on?
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84 min: Very much attack v defence here. But Hungary have realised that they are six minutes away from topping the group here, and appear to have settled for a draw. The pace of the game has finally dropped though, both sides look knackered.
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82 min: Both side make their final changes: Danilo coming on for Nani for Portugal, Hungary’s Stieber replaces Lovrencsics.
80 min: Hungary haven’t been out of their half in five minutes. They’ve had just 34% possession this half. Really can’t see them scoring again, but then who saw 3-3 coming?
As it stands, Hungary are top, Portugal are second, and Iceland are third, with Austria bottom, which means Portugal would play England in the last 16.
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78 min: Korhut is really struggling against Quaresma at left-back. First the sub nutmegs Hungary’s defender and fires a shot wide at goal. Next, another trick gives Korhut the wobblies, and Quaresma’s cross just evades Nani. Portugal are getting closer.
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76 min: Chance for Ronaldo! It’s a tough bouncing ball to control, but if anyone can turn a waist-high ball into the top corner, it’s Portugal’s No7. Not on this occasion though. That coming from another Quaresma cross, by the way.
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73 min: Quaresma has been an inspiration since coming on, both he and Renato Sanches have been excellent off the bench. After scoring twice from crosses, Portugal have realised that is their best route to goal.
@michaelbutler18 A match like a teenager's first kiss: on the whole quite sloppy, yet endearing and memorable.
— Hubert O'Hearn (@BTBReviews) June 22, 2016
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70 min: Fernando Santos has just passed a paper note to Eliseu, who then passed it to Ronaldo, who then ate it . Tactical instructions, presumably with the words ATTACK written on it.
“It’s true that he can be a bit of a tool sometimes, but isn’t there something a little self-defeating in the way so many people are enjoying seeing Ronaldo struggle for form, and Portugal probably exit the tournament?” asks David Wall. “This is one of the best attacking players of all time, and who pretty much single-handedly won their World-Cup qualification play-off against Sweden a couple of years ago, after all. It’d be much more enjoyable to see him performing at his top level, and more appropriate for a finals tournament which is supposed to be a show-case of excellence. Upset results are fun, but only to a certain extent: we’ll all be regretting the schadenfreude if we’re sitting through the Republic of Ireland against Turkey in the final in a couple of weeks time.”
68 min: Hungary make a change up top: Szalai coming off for Nemeth. They desperately need new legs in midfield!
66 min: This game is SO open. Hungary’s midfield are being completely outrun, and while they still pose a threat on the counter attack, Portugal have got into three-on-two situations on several occasions but blown their lines on each occasion. Surely this profligacy won’t last.
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64 min: Hungary hit the post! Ohhhh, Szalai should have scored! He met a low cross from Lovrencsics, getting to the ball just ahead of a sliding Pepe, but hammered his sidefooted effort against the post from six yards out. What a game this is turning out to be.
63 min: Austria have equalised against Iceland. If things stay as they are, Portugal will play England in the last 16!
The prophetic Brendan Large.
@michaelbutler18 Is there actually anyone in the world who thinks the end result is NOT going to be England playing Portugal?
— Brendan Large (@brendanlarge) June 22, 2016
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GOAL! Hungary 3-3 Portugal (Ronaldo 62)
Ronaldo has done it again, and it’s Quaresma with his first touch that provided the assist, coming short for a corner and whipping an irresistible ball onto the head of Ronaldo, who nods past Kiraly from point blank range. Game on!
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60 min: Portugal sub: Quaresma on, Gomes off. Good change, that, Portugal need more width.
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58 min: Renato Sanches has definitely made a difference. He’s a bundle of energy in the middle of the pitch and drives forward. For a moment, Portugal are three on three but a mix up between Ronaldo and Joao Mario lets the move fizzle out.
56 min: Ronaldo looks defeated. He’s throwing a little strop in the middle of the field.
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GOAL! Hungary 3-2 Portugal (Dzsudzsak 54)
He’s done it again! OK, not directly from the free-kick, his initial effort was blocked, but Hungary’s captain picked up the rebound, tried again, and ANOTHER deflected shot finds its way into the net, this time completely out of the reach of Rui Patricio.
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53 min: Free kick to Dzsudzsak on the edge of Portugal’s box again. This is free-kick No1 since he last scored from a set-piece.
51 min: Chance for Nani! He is inches from getting a toe on the end of another Joao Mario cross. The winger is having the freedom of the right flank and cuts a delicious pass across the six yard box. Nani slides and stretches, but can’t get there.
No too dissimilar to this ...
GOAL! Hungary 2-2 Portugal (Ronaldo 49)
His first goal for Portugal in over a year. And what a time to get it. What a goal, too. Joao Mario gets free on the left, curls a brilliant ball to the six-yard box. It is slightly behind Ronaldo, but he improvises brilliantly, flicking the ball behind his front leg, and into the far corner. No chance for Kiraly. Cue his chest-puffing celebration. But my, that was special.
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48 min: Lovrencsics breaks from deep, and gallops down the left into Portugal’s area, and from a very similar postition to where Nani scored, rifles his shot into the side netting.
GOAL! Hungary 2-1 Portugal (Dzsudzsak 47)
Hungary are in front again! After Szalai was brought down on the edge of Portugal’s area, Dzsudzsak steps up to take the free-kick, curling his effort towards the top corner. But it takes a deflection off Gomes in the wall, diverts and flies past Rui Patricio. Could the keeper have done better? Probably, it went in the middle of the goal.
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Peeeeep! And we’re off again. Both sides have made changes: Renato Sanches, who recently made a move from Benfica to Bayern for an initial €35m, comes on for Moutinho.
For Hungary, Bese comes on for Gera.
Half-time reading:
Here’s a plug for my Joy of Six, with Paul Doyle. Read the entry on Denmark’s Kim Wilfort and the one on Jean-François Domergue, who scored two goals for France against Portugal in 1984.
Half-time: Hungary 1-1 Portugal
Great half of football. Gera’s goal was one of the goals of the tournament. Portugal have been poor, but scored a fine goal of their own, and if they score one more without conceding, they will be through to the last-16.
45 min: One minute added on here.
43 min: Szalai tries his luck from range, and very nearly catches Rui Patricio out, who scampers back and catches the ball on his own goal line.
“Please keep up the Cristiano Ronaldo hopeless free kick count,” emails Ted Lee. “I’ve got 53 in the office pool.”
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GOAL! Hungary 1-1 Portugal (Nani 41)
And just like that, Portugal are back in it. Ronaldo comes deep, is allowed to turn, but rather than shoot he picks out Nani’s run with a sumptuous pass that dissects three Hungary defenders. Nani takes the ball in his stride, and thunders a low shot inside Kiraly’s near post. That’s what happens when Ronaldo isn’t selfish. Portugal back in it!
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39 min: Chance for Hungary. Lang gets free on the right - where is Eliseu? - but rather than drive the byline, he puts an early low cross in. Pepe so nearly gets his feet in a muddle and scores an own goal, but just about puts it behind for a Hungary corner. Lang should have done better.
37 min: “I don’t see it fair to be counting how many free kicks CR has shot without making goal,” emails Raul Ontiveros. “It’s actually very irritating. I realise he is a top player who should be be giving results but c’mon hes having poor form moment do you forget that a month ago he was barely playing games because he was hurt? I’m not saying take it easy on him because he is not showing up in the Euro’s but chill with the counting how many free kicks he takes without scoring.”
It’s mainly because that’s the third time in 10 minutes that he’s tried to trouble a 40-year-old goalkeeper. Put the ball in the box. He’s probably one of the best headers of a ball in the world. Try that, instead.
35 min: Austria have just missed a penalty and the chance to draw level with Iceland. Get the latest here, with Ben Fisher.
3 - The last three penalties taken at #Euro2016 have been missed, this after the first four were scored in the tournament. Margins.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 22, 2016
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33 min: Gera is shown a yellow card for a barge on Gomes. Another free-kick for Portugal, another shot by Ronaldo, another easy save by Kiraly. That’s No39. I’ve basically just copied and pasted that from five minutes ago.
Never mind Ronaldo, here’s a hot Gera stat.
37 - Zoltan Gera is the second oldest goalscorer in a EURO finals match (37y 61d) after Ivica Vastic (38y 256d). Veteran #Euro2016 #HUN #POR
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 22, 2016
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31 min: Hungary are having a lovely time of it, their supporters cheering each pass with a celebratory “Ole!”.
@michaelbutler18 Hmmm...Iceland through and Portugal out? Never under-estimate the karma of small nations and reporter's microphones.
— Hubert O'Hearn (@BTBReviews) June 22, 2016
28 min: Juhasz is shown a yellow card for a barge on Gomes. Another free-kick for Portugal, another shot by Ronaldo, another easy save by Kiraly. That’s No38.
Both Hungarian central defenders are on a yellow now though. Over an hour left to stay sensible against Nani and Ronaldo ain’t easy.
26 min: I’ve personally never understood the fuss over Andre Gomes. He never stood out for me when I saw him play for Valencia last year, and he’s been anonymous today, but this summer has been linked with big-money moves away from the Mestella. Why?
24 min: Chance for Szalai! A slip from Pepe allows the striker to pounce on a loose ball, and he hits the ball firmly down the throat of Rui Patricio, who punches clear. Szalai actually had much more time than he realised. Portugal are rocking.
23 min: He takes a free-kick, that’s what he does. And it deflects off the wall, and kindly into the arms of Kiraly. That’s free-kick No37 without a goal.
21 min: Iceland have also taken the lead against Austria. Which means they are currently second behind Hungary, with Portugal third, and Austria last. It’s as you were then. Ronaldo stands hands on hips. Where does he do now?
GOAL! Hungary 1-0 Portugal (Gera 19)
WHAT. A. GOAL. Zoltan Gera, playing in a defensive midfield role, has just scored one of the best goals of this tournament. After a Hungary corner was headed clear, the former West Brom man controlled the ball on his chest and rifled the ball low through a crowd of players into the bottom corner. Think Luka Modric’s goal, but hit with more pace, without the hair flick, and by the weaker foot of an ageing 37-year-old. Wow!
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17 min: Dzsudzsak is a good player isn’t he. He is popping up in pockets of space in front of the Portuguese defence, and Pepe and Ricardo Carvalho don’t know whether to come out and shut him down or stay put.
15 min: It’s 6.18pm in Lyon at the moment and still 31C. I wonder how Kiraly is getting on under those trackies. He already looks hot and bothered.
He did once make a mistake playing for Crystal Palace against Chelsea when he wasn’t wearing his bottoms, and afterwards vowed never to play without them again.
Gabor Kiraly, Eidur Gudjohnsen & Ricardo Carvalho played in Chelsea 4-1 Crystal Palace in 2005.
— Harry (@HarryCFC_) June 14, 2016
11 years later, they're all at Euro 2016.
13 min: Nani has not had the best start to his 99th cap, but he is right in the thick of things. Gomes finds Fenerbahce’s finest with an early ball down the line, and Nani just toes the ball in front of Guzmics, who brings the Portuguese crashing to the turf. Yellow card.
10 min: Another chance for Nani, and again, he gets in the way of Ronaldo, heading the ball over the bar, when Ronnie was perhaps better placed. Remind you of anything?
8 min: Nani sets off on a counter attack, and tries to take Juhasz on the outside, when there were options inside, and Hungary’s No25 gets a toe in for a corner. Ronaldo is furious! He thows his arms up and anger, scowling and turning his back on Nani. He wanted the ball played earlier.
7 min: Hungary advance forward for the first time, Lang finding Dzsudzsak, who whips a wonderful ball in between Pepe and Rui Patricio, with the Real Madrid defender forced to put the ball behind to prevent Szalai reaching it. Portugal look very fragile at the back.
5 min: Ronaldo gets his first chance to run at the Portugal defence, and he is unceremoniously upended by Juhasz. Martin Atkinson has a quiet word with the defender, you’ve had your one. Ronaldo doesn’t take the free-kick (!!!), instead opting to trot into the area for Moutinho’s delivery. But it’s a poor one.
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3 min: A brilliant ball is floated over the top for Nani, and the forward only needs to take one touch and he is through on goal, but it’s a clumsy control, and the ball gets away from the former Manchester United man! Great chance, poor from Nani.
2 min: Portugal win an early corner. Portugal may well look to pepper Hungary’s area with crosses, Kiraly isn’t the best under the high ball. Moutinho swings it in, cleared by Dzsudzsak.
Peeeeeeep! And we’re off!
The teams are out, Portugal in their changed green strip, Hungary in their home red. Ronaldo looks very, very serious. Anthems are finished, handshakes shaken. Let’s do this!
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In other news:
Want to see an #IRL fan dressed as a horse kick a ball through a window? You're in luck!https://t.co/Q0OhuzzLyN
— PA Dugout (@PAdugout) June 22, 2016
The Republic of Ireland face Italy later of course, 8pm BST kick off, which we will of course bring to you via the medium of MBM. If you fancy a bit of Austria v Iceland RIGHT NOW, you can click here.
Our video team have been hard at work. Enjoy.
@michaelbutler18 That's an awful lot of Hungary changes. Injuries/suspensions, or just playing for 0-0 from the get-go?
— (((Doremus Schafer)) (@Doremus42) June 22, 2016
Hungary have made five changes from the team that drew with Iceland. Having already qualified, my feeling is that they genuinely don’t mind where they qualify. Win the group and they play Group E runners up, most likely Belgium. Come second and they will play England. Come third and they face Croatia (I think). It’s a tough ask no matter what happens. But perhaps finishing third is not all that bad.
Hungary also have four players on yellow cards - Kadar, Nagy, Nemeth, Klenheisler - all are left out.
Here’s a useful explainer:
Thanks @ballsdotie #Euro2016 #Permutations pic.twitter.com/bMIKcLk3ds
— Paul Campbell (@campbellwpaul) June 22, 2016
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Today isn’t just about Cristiano Ronaldo, but TODAY IS ALL ABOUT CRISTIANO RONALDO. Win or lose, he will be lauded/blamed. Here are some stats.
- Ronaldo has never ended a major tournament with Portugal without scoring (2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012 & 2014).
- Ronaldo will play his 800th match in his professional career tonight v Hungary, and his 17th Euro match, overtaking Lilian Thuram and Edwin van der Sar as the record appearance maker in the tournament.
- Ronaldo has attempted a total of 20 shots at Euro 2016 - more than nine teams managed before the first two round of matches. Portugal have had 49 attempts on goal so far, scoring once.
- Ronaldo has yet to score in 36 direct free-kick attempts at the Euros.
- Ronaldo has not scored a competitive goal for Portugal in 12 months.
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No Kleinheisler! I’m gutted. They call him ‘Scholes’ in the Hungary camp, apparently. No idea why.
#bae pic.twitter.com/mahd0gfbEf
— Michael Butler (@michaelbutler18) June 22, 2016
The teams:
Hungary 4-2-3-1: Kiraly; Lang, Juhasz, Guzmics, Korhut; Pinter, Elek; Lovrencsics, Gera, Dzsudzsak; Szalai.
Portugal 4-4-1-1: Rui Patricio; Vieirinha, Pepe, R. Carvalho, Eliseu; Joao Mario, W. Carvalho, Moutinho, Andre Gomes; Ronaldo; Nani
Referee: Martin Atkinson (England)
Preamble
Anything could happen. Well almost anything. All four of the teams in Group F could yet qualify for the last 16. Group leaders Hungary have defied predictions, betting odds, and glum expressions from those that picked them out in the office sweepstake to book their place in the knockout round, but could still finish in third. Today’s opponents, Portugal could finish anywhere from first to last.
Of course, much depends on what happens in the group’s other game, between Iceland and Austria, and with this ludicrous third-place qualification system, a lot depends on what happens in tonight’s games Group E matches. But let’s focus on the here and now: Bernd Storck’s Hungary v Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo limbered up for tonight’s contest by throwing a reporter’s microphone into a lake. The incident came in the wake of word from Andy Hunter that the Portuguese media are getting uneasy with Ronaldo’s demeanour, and the team’s prospects at the tournament.
Ronaldo has cut an uneasy figure at this tournament. Some say he is over the hill, although this MBMer would suggest that he’s probably just getting used to the fact that he’s not playing in a team with Gareth Bale, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Karim Benzema, Sergio Ramos, to name but a few. Some have pointed that his free-kick stats are abysmal, and this MBMer would suggest they are right. But whether you like him or not, Cristiano has a tendency of having the last laugh.
Hungary, on the other hand, have been a delight. There are all kinds of wonderful narratives surrounding the team: the modern day Magical Magyars, comprised of Adam Szalai, a striker that ended his 18-month goal drought against Austria, my player of the tournament so far, Laszlo Kleinheisler (who started just once for his club all of last season) and Gabor Kiraly’s tracksuit bottoms.
With everything to play for, anything could happen. Well almost anything.
Kick off: 6pm in Lyon, 5pm BST.
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Michael will be here shortly for this 5pm (BST) kick-off. While you wait, here’s some reading to whet your appetite.
Here’s Ben Fisher on Hungary’s renaissance at the tournament …
The dream goes on. The prospect of topping Group F on Wednesday evening is extraordinary, given that their coach, Bernd Storck, described his side making the Euro 2016 play-offs as a “small miracle”. After beating Norway over two legs, this is their first major tournament for 30 years and their first European Championship for 44.
On their arrival the script was supposed to, at best, see them squeeze into third place in the group ahead of their fellow underdogs Iceland. Storck has been straight-batting comparisons between his squad and the English Premier League champions ever since. “I would like to remain realistic but Leicester’s win is, of course, amazing,” he said.
Hungary enjoyed their finest hour with Ferenc Puskas spearheading the Magical Magyars of the 1950s but now they are cherishing a new dawn under the eyes of the German trio Storck, his assistant, Andreas Möller, and the goalkeeping coach Holger Gehrke …
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