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Euro 2020: Goal of the day

June 20, 2021 10:16 IST

Attila Fiola

IMAGE: Hungary’s Attila Fiola celebrates in front of the fans. Photograph: Alex Pantling/Getty Images

World champions were expected to waltz past a Hungary but they struggled to impose themselves in their 1-1 Euro 2020 draw on Saturday.

 

Attila Fiola

IMAGE: Attila Fiola scores their side's first goal whilst under pressure from Presnel Kimpembe and Raphael Varane of France. Photograph: Tibor Illyes - Pool/Getty Images

A heaving, 65,000-strong, mainly Hungarian crowd, the likes of which has not been seen at football since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, willed their side to a share of the points in the summer sun even if they were largely outplayed.

Attila Fiola

IMAGE: Attila Fiola celebrates after putting Hungary ahead. Photograph: Laszlo Balogh/Getty Images

The passionate fans who have served as Hungary's 12th man in both of their Group F games were rewarded for their continual support with a moment they will never forget.

Attila Fiola gave the hosts a dream half-time lead, after France missed a bevy of early chances. He put his name into history books with a goal in first-half stoppage time, putting his side in the lead with a fantastic run and finish.

Attila Fiola

IMAGE: Hungary's Peter Gulacsi celebrates. Photograph: Bernadett Szabo/Reuters

France was punished at the end of the half as wingback Fiola collected a cross-field pass from Adam Nagy, played a one-two with Roland Sallai and outpaced the French defence. He beat goalkeeper Hugo Lloris with a low shot at the near post to coolly side-foot home a goal.

It was met with a rapturous response from the ecstatic crowd. The atmosphere is likely to prove as unforgettable as Fiola's goal.

Hungary

IMAGE: Roland Sallai, Tamas Cseri, Andras Schaefer, Nemanja Nikolic and Gergo Lovrencsics celebrate in front of home fans after holding World champions France 1-1. Photograph: Alex Pantling/Getty Images

France rescued a point after Griezmann cancelled out Attila Fiola's first half strike in front of a loud, 65,000-strong crowd at the Puskas Arena - one of the biggest at a game in Europe since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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