'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#3 Hit: Thomas Meunier (Belgium)
The man who assisted the match-winning goal, Thomas Meunier belongs on the positive end of this list for different reasons. Playing as a wing-back in a 3-4-3 system is never easy. It requires a player to switch from defense to attack with great efficiency. One must never lose focus and know exactly when and what to do given the circumstances.
Trending
Meunier's performance was an example of that. While he recorded an assist, it was his defensive performance that caught the eye. The Belgian outjumped his opponent just about every single time he participated in an aerial duel. His tackles were also on point on most occasions as Belgium held on to a slender lead.
#2 Flop: Pepe (Portugal)
An ever-present in Portugal's squad for years now, Pepe has been Mr. Dependable at the back. The 38-year-old has tons of experience of playing and succeeding at the highest level of international football. However, his experience counted for very little when he came up against a rampant Belgium team on Sunday evening.
Pepe had a very tough time tracking Belgium's fluid front three. Each of the Belgian attackers offered Pepe a different problem to deal with, and the former Real Madrid defender just couldn't keep up. In the second half, he had clearly run out of energy. Romelu Lukaku's stamina and strength was too much for Pepe to cope with as the game progressed, and it showed.
#1 Hit: Thorgan Hazard (Belgium)
The man of the moment for Belgium. Thorgan Hazard has finally escaped the shadows of his elder brother on the grand stage and how! In what was a very tense and closely fought affair, Thorgan decided to steal all the limelight for himself with a sublime strike from distance to beat Rui Patricio in the Portuguese goal.
But it wasn't just his goal that warranted praise. Playing as a left wing-back, Thorgan was required to participate in a significant amount of defensive duties, and he did them very well. His tackling was extremely impressive against some tricky Portuguese attackers. Thorgan made a total of five tackles - more than any other Belgian.
