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PARIS — Thorgan Hazard scored the only goal of the game as Belgium knocked the holders Portugal out of Euro 2020 on Sunday after the Czech Republic ended the dreams of a 10-man Netherlands side.

Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portugal teammates were hoping to defend the trophy they won in Paris five years ago but they could not recover after the lesser heralded of the Hazard brothers smashed home just before half-time in Seville and Belgium held out for a 1-0 victory.

The meeting between the reigning champions and the world’s top-ranked team was hotly anticipated but it never lived up to expectations.

Belgium will not care as they advance to another exciting tie, a mouth-watering quarter-final against Italy in Munich on Friday.

“I just tried my luck,” said Borussia Dortmund winger Hazard. “It wasn’t easy but to go all the way in a tournament you have to suffer at times.”

It remains to be seen if their captain, Kevin De Bruyne, will be fit to face Italy after he was forced off early in the second half feeling the effects of an earlier Joao Palhinha challenge that left him with an injured ankle.

Coach Roberto Martinez also saw skipper Eden Hazard come off late on with a hamstring problem.

Raphael Guerreiro came closest to equalising for Portugal but Ronaldo rarely looked like getting the goal that would have seen him break the all-time international scoring record.

He equalled the record of 109 goals established by Iran’s Ali Daei with a brace in the 2-2 draw with France in Portugal’s final group game.

At 36, this could well have been Ronaldo’s last ever match at the European Championship but he will certainly hope to play at next year’s World Cup in Qatar.

“There are players in tears,” said Portugal coach Fernando Santos. “We are very sad because the players gave everything.”

De Ligt red card costly

Earlier The Netherlands saw their run ended as goals from Tomas Holes and Patrik Schick gave the Czech Republic a 2-0 victory in Budapest.

The tie in the Hungarian capital swung on two moments early in the second period that went against Frank de Boer’s side.

Donyell Malen was denied by Tomas Vaclik after bursting through and finding himself with just the Czech goalkeeper to beat and then Netherlands centre-back Matthijs de Ligt was sent off after a VAR review for a deliberate handball.

Holes opened the scoring in the 68th minute and the 28-year-old Slavia Prague midfielder then made the clinching second goal with 10 minutes left, pouncing on a loose ball and breaking through to set up Schick.

It was Schick’s fourth goal of the Euro so far and the Czech Republic, ranked 40th in the world, now go through to a quarter-final against Denmark in Baku next Saturday, July 3.

“We might not be big stars like the Dutch but we showed great team spirit and that is what made the difference,” said Schick.

Denmark secured their place in the last eight with a comprehensive 4-0 win over Wales in Amsterdam on Saturday before Italy joined them by beating Austria 2-1 in extra time at Wembley.

Meanwhile the inquest will begin in the Netherlands as their first appearance at a major tournament since the 2014 World Cup ends in disappointment after some promising displays in the group phase.

As the 1988 Euro winners head home, De Ligt shouldered responsibility following his sending-off.

“The moment changed the game and I feel responsible. I saw how the guys fought after and I’m proud of it. But I feel bad about the incident,” De Ligt told Dutch public broadcaster NOS.

Bigger crowd in Bucharest

Meanwhile the build-up continues to Tuesday’s last-16 clash between England and old rivals Germany in London.

England will be looking for their first win over the Germans in a tournament knockout match since the 1966 World Cup final, something their manager Gareth Southgate tried to play down on Sunday.

“I don’t need to demystify it. The history is an irrelevance to them,” he said of his players.

On Monday World Cup holders France will be expected to see off Switzerland in Bucharest, where local authorities have increased the number of fans allowed in.

Around 25,000 will be permitted inside the National Arena in the Romanian capital, amounting to half the overall capacity as COVID-19 restrictions are relaxed.

Monday’s earlier match will see Croatia tackle Spain in Copenhagen.

Croatia will be without Ivan Perisic, one of their key players, after he became the latest star at the tournament to test positive for coronavirus.

AMMAN — Jordan will make history by sending its biggest number of athletes to an Olympic Games when an impressive 14 will travel to Tokyo, Japan next month, according to the Jordan Olympic Committee News Service. 

The number breaks the previous set by the 13-strong delegation that travelled to the 1984 Los Angeles Games, and particularly impressive is the number who have actually qualified with 10 booking their places through their sports’ tough qualifications processes.

No less than eight sports will see Jordanians competing, including equestrian, boxing, karate, taekwondo, swimming, shooting, judo and athletics.

Ibrahim Bisharat will be the most senior athlete in the delegation and was the first to qualify for Tokyo to make his fourth appearance at an Olympic Games in Horse Jumping. He previously competed at Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and London 2012.

Bisharat finished second in his Group F Equestrian tournament that included 66 countries from Asia and Africa.

He was then joined by the boxing delegation which will be comprised of five fighters who came through the Asian/Oceanian boxing qualification event held in Amman in March 2020 after it was moved from Wuhan, China, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That event welcomed over 220 boxers from 35 countries with Hussein Ishaish (-91kg), Obada Al Kesbeh (-63kg), Ziad Ishaish (-69kg), Mohammad Al Wadi (-57kg) and Udai Al Hindawi (-81kg) all clinching their Olympic spots.

Hussein and Obadah will be competing at their second Olympic Games after also qualifying to Rio 2016.

Jordan will be represented in taekwondo by Saleh Al Sharabati (-80kg) and Juliana Al Sadeq (-67kg), who came through another Amman-hosted qualification event in May to book their places. 

It means that Jordan will compete in taekwondo for the fifth consecutive Olympics, with the fighters hoping to emulate the heroics of Ahmad Abu Ghaush who won Jordan’s first ever medal — a gold — at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro in the -67kg category. 

Karate has been added to the Olympic roster for the first time and Jordan will be among the countries participating after AbdulRahman Al Masatfa came through the qualification tournament held in Paris, France last month.

Yunis Eyal Salman will be competing for Jordan in judo, following in the footsteps of Ibrahim Khalaf, who was the first Jordanian judoka to compete at an Olympics five years ago. He has qualified for the -73kg category.

The International Shooting Federation has recognised the achievements of Asma’ Abu Rabee who has been invited to compete following her record in Arab competitions. She will take part in the 10m pistol, the first Jordanian shooter to do so since Sydney 2000, with the sport also being the first that Jordan competed at in 1980 at Moscow.

Twenty-year-old Aliya Bushnaq has an impressive track record in Arab competitions and that has been recognised by the IAAF who have invited her to compete in the 100m for athletics.

There will be two swimmers represented with Talita Baqleh set to make her third appearance after breaking Jordan records at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Games. She will compete in the 50m freestyle, with another ticket open for a soon to be announced male swimmer.

The record-breaking delegation has been warmly praised by Nasser Majali, Jordan Olympic Committee (JOC) secretary general, who described them as the pride of Jordan by relaying the congratulations of HRH Prince Feisal, JOC president. 

“This record number of athletes is down to the hard work and dedication of the athletes, their coaches and the federations who have supported them,” said Majali.

The list is particularly pleasing for the JOC who launched the Kingdom’s first sporting strategy in 2017, with one of the goals to qualify more athletes for major competitions.

LONDON — Italy overcame stubborn Austria 2-1 in extra-time at Wembley on Saturday to reach the Euro 2020 quarter-finals as Denmark breezed through by hammering Wales 4-0.

Roberto Mancini’s side, who earned rave reviews after their cruise through the group phase, were made to work hard for their win and had super subs Federico Chiesa and Matteo Pessina to thank.

The victory means Italy has now set a new record of 31 matches unbeaten, surpassing the mark set under two-time World Cup-winning coach Vittorio Pozzo in the 1930s.

Italy’s fans gave a rousing rendition of their national anthem and were the more enterprising team in the first half but Austria came back strongly after the break and cursed a VAR decision to rule out a goal for Marko Arnautovic 20 minutes into the second half.

Despite multiple attempts on goal from both sides, they were locked at 0-0 after 90 minutes in London.

But Chiesa made the crucial breakthrough five minutes into extra-time and another goal from Pessina gave Italy a two-goal cushion.

There was still time for late drama when Austria’s Sasa Kalajdzic pulled a goal back but Italy progress and will play the winners of Sunday’s tie between Belgium and holders Portugal.

Mancini, who has rebuilt the Azzurri after their humiliating failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, said his side “deserved” the result.

“In the first half we could have scored a couple of goals and then after the break we dropped off physically,” he told Italy’s public broadcaster RAI.

“We won thanks to the players who came on with the right mindset and resolved the situation. I knew it would be hard, maybe even more so than in the quarter-finals.”

Earlier, Denmark eased into the quarter-finals with a 4-0 win over Wales in Amsterdam’s Johan Cruyff Arena thanks to two goals from Kasper Dolberg’s and late goals from Joakim Maehle and Martin Braithwaite.

The Danes, carried by a wave of emotion, are the neutrals’ favourites after overcoming the trauma of Christian Eriksen’s cardiac arrest in their opening game.

They will face The Netherlands or Czech Republic in the quarter-finals after winning a knockout tie at the European Championship for the first time since they stunned the continent by winning the tournament in 1992.

It is exactly 29 years since Denmark defeated Germany in the final in Gothenburg having famously only qualified because war-torn Yugoslavia disintegrated.

“It is hard to believe that this is reality,” said coach Kasper Hjulmand. “Johan Cruyff is one of my great inspirations and this was also Christian’s first home after leaving Denmark.

“I am really grateful for all the support we got, and the guys are true warriors. Being in the quarter-finals now is amazing.”

Wales, surprise semi-finalists at Euro 2016, found the majority of the stadium filled by Danish supporters, with fans barred from entering The Netherlands from Britain due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Robert Page’s side made a promising start as Gareth Bale drilled just wide from distance, but Dolberg curled Denmark ahead with a sumptuous strike shortly before the half hour.

The Nice forward, brought into the team as a replacement for Yussuf Poulsen, then pounced on a poor clearance by Neco Williams to fire home a second just after half-time.

Maehle added a third goal for Denmark two minutes from time before Harry Wilson was sent off for a lazy challenge on the Atalanta player.

Braithwaite rubbed further salt into Welsh wounds with a fourth goal in stoppage time as Denmark became the first team in European Championship history to score four in successive matches.

“We tried to play in the second half but made a mistake to concede which killed the momentum on our side,” said Wales and Real Madrid forward Bale.

“To finish how we did is disappointing... the boys are frustrated and angry, but I’d rather we go out like that, kicking and screaming, than laying off and doing nothing.”

SPIELBERG, Austria — World Championship leader Max Verstappen of Red Bull claimed pole position for the Styrian Grand Prix on Saturday as Mercedes’ Valterri Bottas complained of getting “screwed over”.

Bottas was second quickest but dropped to fifth on the grid because of a three-place penalty imposed on Friday, leaving teammate Lewis Hamilton to start on the front row with Verstappen.

“It has been a very good weekend,” said Verstappen. 

“The car was very good to drive in qualifying. It was not easy to deal with the traffic, the fifth lap in Q3 was good enough in the end.

“Super happy to be on pole here at home. It’s always nice to see a Red Bull car first here.”

McLaren’s Lando Norris produced the performance of the day, pushing the front-runners all the way and finishing fourth, meaning he will start from third. 

Norris was followed by the second Red Bull of Sergio Perez and the Alpha Tauris of Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda who were split by Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari in seventh. 

Fernando Alonso in the Alpine and Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin rounded out the top 10 with George Russell just missing out in his Williams.

Tsunoda, however, was later given a three-place penalty for impeding Bottas, moving Russell up to the fifth row.

Verstappen had been the standout performer in practice on Friday and looked in supreme control as he claimed his third pole position of the season, clocking a fastest time of 1min 3.841secs.

Bottas made a late dart and finished 0.194secs behind Verstappen. 

The Finn, however, was penalised on Friday for “dangerous driving” after spinning in the pit lane and will start from fifth on the third row of the grid. 

“My personal view [is] it’s quite harsh,” said a disgruntled Bottas after qualifying. 

“I never imagined... there would be a penalty. But of course other teams, when there’s an opportunity they complain that it’s dangerous, etcetera, so we get penalised.

“That’s how it goes. Everyone’s trying to screw you over in this sport. For sure, it can be a dangerous situation if there’s many people in the pit lane but no.”

Hamilton benefits 

That penalty opened the door for his teammate Lewis Hamilton to keep up the pressure on Verstappen who leads him by just 12 points after seven rounds of the championship. 

Hamilton, who topped Saturday morning’s third and final practice, was 0.2sec behind Verstappen and banked on a blistering final lap.

But the Briton struggled to challenge the pace of the Dutchman and when he ran wide at turn nine, he has to cede pole to his rival. 

“They [Red Bull] have been so fast this weekend, been giving it absolutely everything,” said Hamilton.

“It wasn’t the greatest of sessions but still on the front row after the penalty. I did everything I could and we go into the race tomorrow for a fight.”

Daniel Ricciardo, in the McLaren, and former world champion Sebastian Vettel in the Aston Martin both failed to qualify for Q3 and were outperformed by Russell who missed out in his Williams on a place in Q3 by just 0.008secs.

AMMAN – Jordan’s national basketball team has restarted preparations for the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 to be held in Jakarta, Indonesia in August.

The basketball team qualification to the continent’s leading basketball tournament came after an unbeaten streak in qualifiers hosted in Amman, which seemed to make up for the football squad’s elimination from World Cup qualifiers in the same week, following which the head coach was dismissed after a miserable performance. 

The basketball squad, playing without well-known stars, and without a naturalised player, beat all odds after an inconsistent preparation period marred with the COVID-19 outbreak and postponements. However, former national team star Marwan Ma’touq succeeded in adopting a strategy and adapting players who were previously not given the chance to play much on the national team level to lead the team to qualification. The coach enlisted former star Wisam Sous and Mohammad Hamdan as his coaching staff, and relied on a new line-up of players that promise well for Jordan’s future in the game.

In an interview with The Jordan Times, Ma’touq, whose squad now awaits the draw to be held in July, said: “Our qualifying mission is accomplished.”

Although matches were played in Amman with no fans, the relatively new line-up managed to seal the qualifiers with an unbeaten run and moved alongside Kazakhstan from Group F to join Lebanon, Bahrain, Syria, Iran, South Korea, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, China, Kazakhstan and the Philippines joining hosts Indonesia, leaving three spots that are still to be decided to determine the 16 participants in the upcoming FIBA Asia Cup in Jakarta.

In its qualifying journey, Jordan had beaten Sri Lanka 100-45 and Kazakhstan 71-68 before the COVID-19 pandemic postponed the world sporting agenda in 2020. Jordan’s matches were again postponed in February 2021 when the team was hit with COVID-19 during their Bahrain training camp.

As the new dates were set for the Amman’s qualifiers, observers doubted the team’s competitive chances especially after friendlies where the team lost to Saudi Arabia 89-69, then beat Qatar 69-57, before scoring a 76-74 win over Saudi Arabia in the second match.

Despite the odds, the players were up to the challenge and seemed to improve from one match to the other. As they resumed qualifiers, they beat Palestine twice 88-77 and 79-76, and Kazakhstan 80-70. The Sri Lankan team’s results are to be decided after they did not to participate due to COVID fears.

Ma’touk underlined confidence in his line-up noting: “We will be playing at a different level in FIBA Asia and I urge fans to stand behind Jordan’s new national squad.” While the difficulties and challenges the national team always faces should not be held as an excuse, he again stated the need for a basketball court assigned for national team training. “That has always been a necessity, and now we also have COVID related difficulties, no foreign recruit yet on the line-up combined with the absence of key players, he added.

Jordan’s best showing at the FIBA Asia Cup (previously called FIBA Asia Championship) was third in 2009 and runner-up in 2011 when they reached the final for the first time in the country’s history, but lost the chance of qualifying to the 2012 Olympic Games after losing the final 70-69 to China. Jordan then played the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) but lost to Puerto Rico and Greece and was eliminated. 

Twenty-four teams are divided into six groups of four teams and the top two from each of the six groups qualify for the FIBA Asia Cup, making a total of 12 teams. The six 3rd place teams from each group qualify to play in a final qualifying tournament and the top four teams from this tournament will qualify for the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup.

PARIS — Cristiano Ronaldo equalled the all-time international scoring record with his 109th goal for Portugal as the reigning champions scraped into the last 16 of Euro 2020 on Wednesday along with Germany and Spain.

The Portugal captain netted a pair of penalties in a 2-2 draw with world champions France in Budapest to send his team through as one of the four best third-placed sides on a dramatic night in Group F.

Germany needed an 84th-minute equaliser from Leon Goretzka to rescue a nervy 2-2 draw with Hungary in Munich, setting up a heavyweight showdown with England at Wembley next week.

The 36-year-old Ronaldo gave Portugal the lead just after the half-hour mark with his first spot-kick, before France hit back through Karim Benzema's two goals either side of half-time.

But, with Portugal heading out as it stood with Hungary leading Germany, Ronaldo converted another penalty on the hour to help send Portugal through to a clash with top-ranked Belgium.

"We did everything I wanted us to do [in the 4-2 defeat] against Germany," Portuguese coach Fernando Santos told RTP. "The result was clearly fair."

His fifth goal of the group stage extended his record tally of Euro goals to 14 and drew him level with former Iran striker Ali Daei, in his 178th international match.

France finished top of the group on five points and will take on Switzerland in the first knockout round.

"It was a fight, it wasn't easy," France coach Didier Deschamps told TF1.

"I know very well that a new competition will be starting from the last 16."

Germany fight back

Germany narrowly avoided a repeat of their group stage exit at the 2018 World Cup, twice coming from behind against Hungary to advance as runners-up.

Adam Szalai gave Hungary a shock early lead and although Germany drew level through Kai Havertz in the second half, Andras Schaefer soon put the visitors back in front, only to be eliminated by Goretzka's late goal.

"We made mistakes but fought and showed superb morale," said Germany coach Joachim Loew.

"It was not for the faint-hearted. Now it will a real highlight to play against England at Wembley."

Just minutes before kick-off at Munich's Allianz Arena, a fan wearing a Germany shirt and waving a large rainbow flag evaded security to invade the pitch, running in front of the lined-up teams before being tackled by stewards and led away.

The build-up to the match had been overshadowed by the fallout from UEFA's decision to block plans by Munich authorities to light the stadium in rainbow colours.

Spain hit their stride

Spain found their form at the right time, crushing Slovakia 5-0 in Seville to qualify for the last 16 as runners-up of Group E behind Sweden.

Spain benefited from two own goals as they swept through to a tie against Croatia, while Ukraine progressed without playing and will face Sweden.

Having already qualified, Sweden secured top spot only after scoring late to win 3-2 against Poland, for whom a Robert Lewandowski double was not enough in Saint Petersburg.

Spain had drawn their first two matches in the competition despite having home advantage in Seville, but coach Luis Enrique warned on the eve of facing Slovakia that his team were "like a bottle of cava that is about to be uncorked".

For the second consecutive game they contrived to miss a penalty as Alvaro Morata's effort was saved by Martin Dubravka.

However, a calamitous error by Dubravka allowed Spain to go ahead on the half-hour as the goalkeeper palmed into his own net as a Pablo Sarabia shot hit the bar and dropped back down.

Aymeric Laporte then scored his first goal for Spain since switching international allegiance from France, making it 2-0 right on half-time.

The 2008 and 2012 European champions ran away with the game in the second half as Sarabia and Ferran Torres scored.

Juraj Kucka's own goal made it 5-0 as Spain equalled the biggest winning margin in the history of the European Championship.

"We've shut a lot of mouths up. We've played some great football and had more luck than in the first two games," Laporte told television channel Telecinco.

Sweden led Poland 2-0 in Saint Petersburg, Emil Forsberg scoring an early opener and then firing in for his brace after great work from Dejan Kulusevski.

In between Lewandowski had contrived to miss a sitter, twice heading off the bar in quick succession when it seemed easier to score.

But the Bayern Munich superstar showed his worth with a stunning strike to reduce the deficit and then an 84th-minute equaliser, a scoreline that would have allowed Spain to win the group.

Poland needed to win themselves to go through but instead Sweden won it in the fourth minute of added time as substitute Viktor Claesson made it 3-2.

Meanwhile those results allowed Ukraine — who played their final Group C game on Monday — to go through as one of the best third-placed teams.

LONDON — Novak Djokovic is targeting a record-equalling 20th major and sixth Wimbledon title from next week, edging him closer to becoming only the third man to complete a calendar Grand Slam.

The World No. 1 has already won a ninth Australian Open and second French Open this season.

That has put him halfway to emulating Don Budge (1937) and Rod Laver (1962 and 1969) in sweeping all four majors in the same year.

It is a feat that even his closest rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have never managed and will probably never achieve.

“Everything is possible,” said 34-year-old Djokovic after winning the French Open earlier this month when asked if the Golden Slam of all four majors and Olympic Games gold was a realistic target.

“I’ve achieved some things that a lot of people thought it would be not possible for me to achieve.”

Djokovic memorably captured a fifth Wimbledon in 2019, saving two championship points to defeat Federer in the longest ever final at the All England Club at four hours and 57 minutes.

He was deprived of defending his title in 2020 when Wimbledon was cancelled due to the pandemic.

However, Djokovic has been at this juncture before, winning in Australia and Paris in 2016 but coming up short at the Rio Olympics, Wimbledon and the US Open later in the year.

Djokovic has won seven of the last 11 Slams as he ramps up his assault on the record of 20 majors held jointly by Federer and Nadal.

Nadal, the Wimbledon champion in 2008 and 2010, has already withdrawn from this year’s tournament, still scarred by the bruising loss to the Serb in the French Open semifinals.

‘Huge challenge’

Eight-time winner Federer, meanwhile, will be 40 in August and won just one match on grass at Halle in the build-up to Wimbledon.

Federer, who underwent two knee surgeries in 2020, won the last of his eight Wimbledons in 2017 and the most recent of his 20 majors in Australia in 2018.

The Swiss star has lost three finals to Djokovic at the All England Club in 2014, 2015 and the epic 2019 clash. 

“It’s a huge challenge for me,” said Federer of his comeback.

“Things don’t come simple, they don’t come easy.”

The rest of the current top 10 have endured so far mediocre Wimbledon records.

Only 33-year-old Roberto Bautista Agut, a surprise semifinalist two years ago, has got beyond the last 16.

Daniil Medvedev has a best of the third round, while Dominic Thiem, who made the fourth round in 2017, crashed at the first hurdle in 2018 and 2019.

Alexander Zverev had a best last 16 run in 2017 but was also a first-round loser two years ago while Andrey Rublev has yet to get past the second round.

Of the remainder of the top 10, French Open runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas and Matteo Berrettini are Djokovic’s most likely threats.

Tsitsipas made the last 16 in 2018 before exiting in the first round two years ago.

The Greek, however, is one of the form players of 2021, winning titles in Monte Carlo and Lyon before forcing Djokovic to recover from two sets down in the Roland Garros final.

Queen’s Club champion Matteo Berrettini is also a dangerman for Djokovic.

The Italian made the last 16 in 2019 where it took Federer to stop his progress.

He was also the first man to win the Queen’s title on debut since Boris Becker in 1985 — the German went on to win a maiden Wimbledon just weeks later.

Andy Murray, the 2013 and 2016 champion, will hope to ride a national wave of emotion at least into the second week.

But the injury-plagued Briton, a former World No. 1, is down at 119 in the rankings and has won just two matches all season.