Friday , March 29 2024

Euro 2016 – Group F: Iceland eliminate Austria, Portugal hold Hungary & progress!

UEFA EURO 2016The 2016 UEFA European Championships is being played across France from June 10 to July 10 for the first time with 24 nations across 10 venues in nine cities with the French capital Paris being the only city with two venues in the Stade de France and the Park de Prince.

The defending double champions are Spain, who are three time record champions along with Germany.

GROUP F – Matchday 3

Hungary 3-3 (1-1) Portugal

Portugal held Group F winners Hungary to an exciting 3-3 draw to just about progress into the Euro 2016 knockout stages.

It was a fast paced game from the start with Portugal knowing that they needed at least a draw to progress, ideally a win to ensure their survival in France. But after some half chances it was Hungary who took a 19th minute lead through a brilliant Zoltan Gera strike.

Hungary’s defence was making life difficult for Portugal but in the 42nd minute Cristiano Ronaldo’s inch perfect through ball found Nani, who just had to put the ball into the back of the net for the halftime equaliser.

After the break the continued were it had left off with Hungary captain’s Balázs Dzsudzsák freekick going into the net via an André Gomes deflection, but Portugal equalised through a back heel from Cristiano Ronaldo. But Hungary regained their lead only five minutes later again through Balázs Dzsudzsák, whose freekick from a similar position was blocked by the wall but the rebound went in through another deflection, this time from Nani.

Portugal had Cristiano Ronaldo who in the 62nd minute headed in a cross from just substituted Ricardo Quaresma to score his second of the day, but Hungary remained hungry for goals and only two minutes later Ákos Elek hit the woodwork.

Thereafter the match lost steam and it remained 3-3 after a very entertaining encounter.

Carlsberg Man of the Match: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) #HUNPOR

Iceland 2-1 (1-0) Austria

Minnows Iceland scored an injury time 2-1 winner over Austria to eliminate the team from the Alps and create the biggest upset of Euro 2016 by progressing into the Round of 16.

Iceland had the better start but Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson’s shot only hit the woodwork while Gylfi Sigurdsson’s corner hit the post before Jón Daði Böðvarsson gave Iceland an 18th minute lead. Austria were shocked and needed help from their opponents to earn a penalty when Ari Freyr Skúlason pulled David Alaba and referee Szymon Marciniak pointed to the dreaded spot. But Aleksandar Dragovic only hit the post in the 37th minute and Julian Baumgartlinger’s shot missed the target as Iceland took the 1-0 lead into the break.

The second half started off with chances at both ends before substitute Alessandro Schöpf scored off a fine solo on the hour mark to equalise for Austria, who now had more of the game but didn’t score of their chances while Iceland wasted their counters except the last one in the 94th minute when Arnór Ingvi Traustason scored off Birkir Bjarnason’s pass to the joy of the Icelandic bench and fans.

Iceland’s fairytale at Euro 2016 continues with a game against mighty England, while Austria are out of the competition.

Carlsberg Man of the Match: Kári Árnason (Iceland) #ISLAUT

About Arunava Chaudhuri

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