Date: June 26, 2016
Result: Hungary 0 Belgium 4
Scorers:
Hungary: none
Belgium: Alderweireld 10, Batshuayi 78, Hazard 80, Carrasco 90
Venue: Stade de Toulouse, Toulouse
Match overview:
Eden Hazard inspired Belgium to a sweeping 4-0 victory over Hungary in Toulouse as Marc Wilmots’ side finally produced a performance worthy of their many talents. Captain Hazard was instrumental in a win that set up a quarter-final meeting against Wales on Friday.
Belgium took an early lead when unmarked defender Toby Alderweireld headed in Kevin De Bruyne’s free-kick in the 10th minute. The goal forced Hungary to open up and attack and Belgium were able to launch a series of counter-attacks.
Hungary goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly kept his side in the game with some splendid saves and the Hungarians had chances of their own when they pressed higher up the pitch in the second half.
But any hopes of a Hungarian revival were killed off by Hazard, who set up Belgium’s second for Michy Batshuayi and scored a brilliant third before another substitute, Yannick Carrasco, added a fourth in injury time.
Key moment:
A brilliant burst of acceleration and cross from Eden Hazard set up substitute Michy Batshuayi to score Belgium’s second goal with his first touch, a simple tap-in which killed off any hopes of a Hungarian revival.
Man of the match:
Belgium captain Eden Hazard gave one of the outstanding individual performances of the tournament so far. He was behind most of Belgium’s attacks, supplying the assist for Batshuayi to score their second goal and then adding a third with a brilliant individual effort.
Matter of fact:
Eden Hazard has had more assist in four games at the Euros than during the whole of last season for Chelsea.
Talking point:
Hungary lost their main creative output when Laszlo Kleinheisler limped out of the pre-match warm-up, then Zoltan Gera dropped out at half-time. But they managed an impressive rearguard action for the much of the second half, before Belgium scored a second goal to kill off any hopes of a comeback.
Stats:
Goal attempts
Hungary: 16
Belgium: 25
Attempts on target
Hungary: 6
Belgium: 14
Corners
Hungary: 6
Belgium: 8
Line-ups:
Hungary
01 Gabor Kiraly
02 Adam Lang
04 Tamas Kadar
07 Balazs Dzsudzsak
08 Adam Nagy
09 Adam Szalai
10 Zoltan Gera (06 Akos Elek 46)
14 Gergo Lovrencsics
16 Adam Pinter (17 Nemanja Nikolic 75)
20 Richard Guzmics
23 Roland Juhasz (13 Daniel Bode 79)
Starting formation: 4-2-3-1
Kiraly – Kadar, Guzmics, Juhasz, Lang – Nagy, Gera – Lovrencsics, Pinter, Dzsudzsak – Szalai
Belgium
01 Thibaut Courtois
02 Toby Alderweireld
03 Thomas Vermaelen
04 Radja Nainggolan
05 Jan Vertonghen
06 Axel Witsel
07 Kevin De Bruyne
09 Romelu Lukaku (22 Michy Batshuayi 76)
10 Eden Hazard (08 Marouane Fellaini 81)
14 Dries Mertens (11 Yannick Carrasco 68)
16 Thomas Meunier
Starting formation: 4-5-1
Courtois – Meunier, Alderweireld, Vermaelen, Vertonghen – Nainggolan, Witsel – Mertens, De Bruyne, Hazard – Lukaku
Yellow cards:
Hungary: Kadar 34, Elek 60
Belgium: Vermaelen 67, Batshuayi 90, Fellaini 90
Referee: Milorad Mazic (Ser)
Attendance: 38,921
