Ronaldo lifts Portugal to last 16
LYON—Cristiano Ronaldo hit a double to become the first player to score in four European Championships and rescue Portugal in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Hungary that secured a last-16 place on Wednesday.
Iceland set up a last-16 clash with England on Monday as substitute Ingvi Traustason’s last-gasp winner earned the Euro debutants a famous 2-1 win over Austria.
Republic of Ireland scored its own memorable 1-0 win over Italy and Belgium beat Sweden by the same score to both move into the last 16, as the international career of Swedish legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic ended in defeat.
There 34-year-old Ibrahimovic had already announced before the match that he would retire from international football at the end of the tournament.
The Irish, Belgians, Iceland and Portugal join hosts France, Wales, Germany, Croatia, Italy, Switzerland, England, Poland, Spain, Slovakia, Northern Ireland and Hungary in the last 16.
The Republic will take on host France in Lyon on Sunday.
Ronaldo also made a record 17th appearance in the European Championship and twice rescued his side from an embarrassing early exit in Lyon as surprise package Hungary ensured its place at the top of Group F.
The Real Madrid star had earlier looked to be feeling the pressure when he threw a reporter’s microphone into a lake when approached on a pre-match team walk.
However, after disappointing performances against Iceland and Austria, Ronaldo came good just in time to set up a meeting with Croatia in Lens on Saturday.
“It was an insane match,” said the three-time World Player of the Year. “Of course, we wanted to win and qualify in first place, but the main thing is we’re through.”
Zoltan Gera smashed Hungary into an early lead before Ronaldo slipped in a pass to Nani to equalize before halftime.
Hungary captain Balazs Dzsudzsak twice threatened to cause a massive upset by sending Ronaldo crashing out early in the second period.
Dzsudzsak’s deflected free-kick put Hungary 2-1 up, but Ronaldo responded with a sumptuous backheel for his historic goal.
Just five minutes later another deflected Dzsudzsak effort restored Hungary’s lead.
Yet Ronaldo was not to be denied as a towering header moved him to within one goal of Michel Platini’s record mark of nine goals in Euros finals.
Traustason’s strike at the death ensured Iceland its first ever win in a major finals and second place in the group and a date with England in Nice.
Jon Dadi Bodvarsson swept Iceland into an 18th-minute lead at the Stade de France, with Austria paying dearly for Aleksandar Dragovic’s missed firsthalf penalty.
Substitute Alessandro Schoepf levelled for Austria on the hour, but Traustason’s 94th-minute strike condemned Marcel Koller’s side, highly fancied to shine before the tournament, to a premature exit. AFP
Round of 16 draw: Switzerland vs. Poland; Wales vs. Northern Ireland; Croatia vs. Portugal; France vs. Ireland; Germany vs. Slovakia; Hungary vs. Belgium; Italy vs. Spain; England vs. Iceland