Opinion: Belgium, Germany, France win matches but Ireland, Hungary win hearts

Second day of round of 16 gave football fans one thing that had been missing since Euros started — exciting football

KARACHI: Arguably the best day at this year’s European Championships by far, the second day of the round of 16 gave football fans around the world the one thing that had been missing since the Euros started on June 10 — exciting football.

Starting the day with Antoine Griezmann’s brace and ending it with Eden Hazard’s world-class display, the round of 16 lived up to its billing after a heavily disappointing, and somewhat disheartening first day.

But while the traditional footballing giants — France, Germany, and the star-studded Belgium —  made their way into the quarter-finals, it was the minnows, Republic of Ireland and Hungary, who won hearts around the world.

PHOTO: AFP

When you pit France, 1998 World Cup winners and twice European champions, against the Republic of Ireland, who were only making their third European appearance and that too courtesy of a play-off and a third-place finish in the group stages, only one outcome was expected; that France would come out on top.

And while the outcome in the France v Republic of Ireland game was as per expectations, it was the manner in which that happened that captivated the entire footballing world.



Ireland took the lead within two minutes of the start of the match through a penalty, converted commandingly by Robbie Brady, and managed to hold on to it for the next 55 minutes. But after withstanding waves and waves of French attacks, the Irish finally caved in to the brilliant header from Griezmann who followed that up with another goal just 225 seconds later which ended Ireland’s hopes of reaching their first-ever Euro quarter-finals.

Yet the Irish did not give up. They stood their ground and took the game to the French who had to be at their best to avoid an upset in their own backyard.

As the referee blew the final whistle, France, which had to endure some extremely nervy moments throughout the match, were awfully glad to get this monkey off their back.

The following game saw Germany simply steamroll a hapless Slovakia and that was exactly the same treatment that many expected Hungary, who were making their first appearance at a major tournament in three decades, to get when Belgium, boasting a squad with a valuation of almost £319million, were done with them.



But how incorrect was this assumption because not only did Hungary prove that they just don’t roll over, they fought like gladiators till the very end.

Their skill on the ball and their surprisingly crisp interplay almost broke Belgium on numerous occasions and had it not been for the fact that Hazard was in an otherworldly mood altogether, this Hungarian side would have given Marc Wimots’ men a run for their money.



PHOTO: AFP

The sheer passion and the never-say-die attitude on display, even when Hungary were 3-0 down, would have impressed any football fan and while it was heartbreaking to see them bow out of the competition, the Nemzeti Tizenegy travel back home with their heads held high. They faced the best the world has to offer and managed to leave their mark — not many teams get to do that.

While the scoreline certainly did read 4-0 at the end of the match, it isn’t a correct assessment of what went on in Toulouse. It is highly unfortunate that such matches are decided on goals alone but football is a sport and in sports there always has to be someone who loses.

The second day ended in amazing fashion with Belgium now looking forward to face Wales in the quarter-final, while Germany will await the winner of the match between Italy and Spain. France, meanwhile, would face the winner of the England-Iceland match.