Twitter reacts as Portugal are knocked out of Euro 2020
By Max Cooper

It's official: the European Championship holders are out.
Portugal slipped to a 1-0 defeat to Belgium in the round of 16 at Euro 2020, meaning the trophy is well and truly up for grabs.
The game was cagey from the outset, with the reigning champions attempting to make life very difficult for their adventurous and creative opponents. All their hard work was undone on 42 minutes however, when Thorgan Hazard unleashed a thunderbolt which flew past Rui Patricio.
Great strike, but some of us weren't convinced by the goalkeeper's attempts to save the pile-driver...
Rui Patricio is one of those goalkeepers who is commonly assumed to be good but no one actually knows why.
— ExpectedChelsea (@ExpectedChelsea) June 27, 2021
He has no standout attributes and lets in so many saveable goals.
Rui Patricio for Portugal in crucial round of 16 games pic.twitter.com/qDEbs0ASS3
— Nikhil (@iNikhil) June 27, 2021
Never fear though, Portugal fans. There was still plenty of time to get back into this one. The Selecao did create some great chances, and could have gone close with several free kicks in dangerous positions.
Unfortunately, serial wall-smasher Cristiano Ronaldo was on the case.
"Ronaldo territory"
— Oliver Hopkins (@oliver_hopkins) June 27, 2021
Ronaldo's last 50 free-kicks in major tournaments. 50 shots. 1 goal. pic.twitter.com/XSln4y3lqC
Goalkeepers when Ronaldo is about to take a free kick pic.twitter.com/q7SW7MEoj6
— Troll Football (@TrollFootball) June 27, 2021
Cristiano Ronaldo has the worst free kick conversion rate in Serie A history.
— Jack Gallagher (@calciolovesjack) June 27, 2021
That means he is the worst free kick taker in 123 years of Italian top flight football. #EURO2020
Commentators will continue to say “this is Cristiano territory” when Portugal get free kicks even though Ronaldo hasn’t been a reliable free kick taker since Obama’s first term.
— Zach Lowy (@ZachLowy) June 27, 2021
So, we couldn't rely on Ronaldo for inspiration. Nor could we rely on Kevin De Bruyne, although for much more worrying reasons. The Manchester City star was hacked down by Joao Palhinha, and the tackle was bad enough to force him off the pitch through injury.
Naturally, we were all gutted to lose one of the greatest players on the planet.
De Bruyne is so unlucky with injuries man. He’s had 14 of them since 2017
— ⚡️?? (@Priceless_Silva) June 27, 2021
What a blow for Belgium and Kevin De Bruyne ?
— International Champions Cup (@IntChampionsCup) June 27, 2021
Get well soon crack ? pic.twitter.com/NZ7hNYhsDw
Kevin De Bruyne was smashed out of the Champions League final and has just left the field in a Euro 2020 R16 game after a tackle from behind.
— Paul Hayward (@_PaulHayward) June 27, 2021
The laws have evolved, but the most gifted players still walk a tightrope.
But then, we all saw something we much prefer to see...needle! Of course, Portuguese nutter Pepe was at the heart of it, picking up a yellow card. He was probably disappointed it didn't escalate further, actually.
Pepe when he gets a yellow card ? pic.twitter.com/BXXJrVOlgk
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 27, 2021
Pepe to the ref after after nearly killing someone pic.twitter.com/n72M1D8E9g
— Mo? (@AFC_Mo24) June 27, 2021
Pepe is a bastard man, you already know he was the kid who ate glue in school.
— Dubois (@CFCDUBois) June 27, 2021
if pepe wasn’t a footballer he’d be in jail
— hanad (@HlGHKAY) June 27, 2021
Pepe when Portugal are losing pic.twitter.com/WC7PvG0Nwe
— Cameron Wanstall (@CameronWanstall) June 27, 2021
Amid all the fighting, the fouling and the arguing, the game of football did draw to an end. Belgium clung on to the 1-0 win thanks to the post, heroics from Thibaut Courtois and some stoic defending.
There's literally no goalkeeper in the world who's better than Courtois. We're at the top. pic.twitter.com/FSXpkj0UDd
— ??? ???? (@EleModric) June 27, 2021
Courtois in big games pic.twitter.com/bHfZs2j2sD
— Ќ (@gloryxrm) June 27, 2021
For Ronaldo and Portugal, it was the end of the road. The legendary forward looked furious at full-time, probably frustrated that he couldn't break the all-time record for the most international goals in history while playing at the European Championship.
? Cristiano and Lukaku sharing a moment of respect at FT. pic.twitter.com/hSypGMcU97
— TCR. (@TeamCRonaldo) June 27, 2021
Everyone said Ronaldo was gonna get carried in the Euros by players like Dias and Bruno. In the end it was Ronaldo or nobody.
— ????. (@GreatWhiteNueve) June 27, 2021
Don't worry, it'll come in the form of a penalty against Andorra or something. And finally, spare a thought for Joao Felix, who has (unfortunately for him) popped up on Roy Keane's radar.
? Roy Keane on Joao Felix:
— Footy Accumulators (@FootyAccums) June 27, 2021
“He’s an imposter. Hit the target, what is he, £100m? If I was Ronaldo, I’d be going after him in the dressing room!”
?? pic.twitter.com/iHq3Y6lmAT