It seems like an eternity since Belgium lost 2-0 to Italy and the world’s pundits wrote them off. If that was their low point, then this was their peak. A fantastic display bamboozled a more than competent Hungary side in what many will agree was the best game of EUEO 2016 so far.
Toby Alderweireld, Michi Batshuayi, Eden Hazard and Yannick Carasco were the goal scorers but is Hazard’s stunning solo performance that left spectators and opponents alike breathless.
Kevin De Bruyne, who amazingly did not score tonight, tested Hungarian keeper Gabor Kiraly early as the Belgians kitted in light blue looked perky early on.
Jan Vertonghen, De Bruyne and Hazard were working clever triangles down the left that left defenders trailing in a sign of things to come.
Belgium took the lead in the ninth minute. A De Bruyne set piece delivery was outstanding. Alderweireld headed in with too many Hungarian defenders onlooking. If poor defending was responsible for that goal, it cannot really be blamed for what was about to happen.
Kiraly made one of several very necessary saves from the effervescent De Bruyne six minutes later, before Alderweireld fired over four minutes after that.
Hungary had several counters. Tournament stand-out Balázs Dzsudzsak charged 40 yards and shot, albeit too straight at Courtois. At the other end, Romelu Lukaku caused displeasure among his own side when he shot way wide with De Bruyne waiting in the middle unmarked.
The Manchester City striker did everything but get on the scoresheet. Kiraly produced a superb save to get the mildest of contact to force his free kick onto the bar before he cleanly caught the frustrated striker’s effort.
Hungary finished an excellent first half the better side. Gergo Lovrencsics had a drive on goal before that man Dzsudzsak came even closer, the ball rolling past Thibaut Courtois’ left hand post.
The statistics of the 45 were incredible. Hungary had 56% of the possession but Belgium took 16 shots. There was hardly a free kick at all.
Belgian fans watch their team in a fanzone
Photo: Asir Burhan
Akos Elek came on for Zoltan Gyra. Dzsudzsak continued to taut Belgium with his dribbling and his delivery, but on every occasion the final piece was missing.
Defender Adam Pinter tested Courtois with a drive which the keeper was up to. His reward was to be on the wrong end of a nasty tackle by Thomas Vermaelen which earned him a yellow card and a suspension for the next match against Wales.
Roland Juhasz drove just wide in another of Hungary’s sporadic attacks but Belgium were about to emphasize their superiority and put the game beyond reach.
The final stanza began on the 75th minute when Batshuayi entered for Lukaku. Kadar’s excellent defensive work denied Carrasco but the new arrival soon heralded his moment. Hazard presented him with a tap in to give Belgium a 2-0 lead.
Seconds later Hazard created more problems for Hungary. The Chelsea winger dribbled towards the tired Hungarians and rifled home an emphatic third. He picked up the ball some 45 yards from goal and no-one looked like being able to stop him. All that said, the finish was still perfection.
Carrasco completed the scoring in stoppage time after Roma’s Radja Nainggolan played a ball through the tired Magyars.
The Hungarians were not disgraced and left to enormous applause from their fans, who also found time to applaud the Belgian side for their performance.
But it is the Belgians that the world will be talking about, as they move on to face Gareth Bale’s Wales in the Quarterfinals.
