LONDON: 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.

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, his first ever at the tournament after failing to find the target at Euro 2008 and 2012.

But, with Portugal heading out as it stood with Hungary leading Germany, Ronaldo converted another penalty on the hour to help Portugal finish in third place in the group, one spot behind Germany, and through to a clash with top-ranked Belgium.

Ronaldo’s 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.

“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.”

Benzema also scored a penalty in first-half injury time after Kylian Mbappe was fouled. It was Benzema’s first international goal in nearly six years after losing his place in the team following a fallout with coach Didier Deschamps.

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 Desch­amps told TF1. “I know very well that a new competition will be starting from the last 16.”

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.

Jamal Musiala made an immediate impact after coming on in the 82nd minute, eluding three defenders to give Timo Werner room to shoot. Werner was blocked but the rebound fell for Goretzka, who shot past goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi in the 84th.

It had looked like Adam Szalai was going to drag his team into the round of 16. The Hungary captain scored one goal early against the run of play and set up Andras Schaefer to make it 2-1 right after Kai Havertz had equalised for Germany.

“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.

Final standingsGroup ‘F’(Tabulated under played, won, drawn, lost, goals scored, goals conceded, points):France 3 1 2 0 4 3 5Germany 3 1 1 1 6 5 4Portugal 3 1 1 1 7 6 4Hungary 3 0 2 1 3 6 2

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2021