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An extraordinary game in Budapest ended all square as France and Portugal both qualified for the round-of-16 after a match that saw three penalties given and scored.
The first of the spot-kicks came when Hugo Lloris raced off his line to punch a cross clear, but caught Danilo first. The penalty was given, France argued, but VAR agreed and Cristiano Ronaldo converted from the spot.
But the hard feelings fell the other way on the cusp of half-time when it was adjudged that Nelson Semedo had halted an off-the-ball run of Kylian Mbappe in the box, with the decision again allowed to stand and Karim Benzema converted from the spot.
Benzema bagged his second of the night shortly after the restart, beating the offside trap and tucking a shot past Rui Patricio, with an offside flag being overruled by the video assistants.
Yet the drama, and involvement of the officials, was not over. And referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz had one last big decision up his sleeve, pointing to the spot for a third time as a cross cannoned into the arm of an unfortunate Jules Kounde.
And Ronaldo scored from the spot to take his tournament tally up to five and keep Portugal in the competition.
France top the group and will play Switzerland in the round-of-16, while Portugal finish third in Group F and qualify as one of the four best third-place sides.
Cristiano Ronaldo and his compatriots will play Belgium next up.
Meanwhile, a barely believable match on a barely fathomable night in a barely comprehensible sport ended with Leon Goretzka’s late goal earning Germany their spot in the last 16.
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They finished second in the group and face England next, while Hungary go home after giving a tremendous account of themselves.
In driving Munich rain, Germany started well, but Hungary defended stoutly and showed enterprising intent on the counter. And on 10 minutes, they had something to show for it, Roland Sallai dropping off to cross brilliantly, and Adam Szalai contorted his body beautifully to send a diving header skidding past Manuel Neuer.
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Germany pushed for an equaliser but struggled to create while Hungary remained a threat, but then on 66 minutes and out of nothing, Kai Havertz headed home from underreported the bar after Peter Gulasci had come for Joshua Kimmich’s free-kick and missed his punch.
For a second, Germany were into the east 16, but Hungary flew at them directly from kick-off and when Szalai put a ball in between Leroy Sane and Mats Hummels, Andras Schafer burst between them to beat Neuer a second time.
Source: GhanaArticles.com/BBC.com
