Portugal coach Fernando Santos has said his players feel sad and disappointed following their early departure from Euro 2020 following a 1-0 defeat by Belgium, saying they were confident they would defend the European crown.

Thorgan Hazard scored the only and triumphant goal for Belgium at the Estadio de La Cartuja, to send Roberto Martinez’s team to the quarterfinals.

The Belgian Red Devils set a quarter-final with Italy on 2 July in Munich with just one kick in the Portuguese goal frame, which turned out to be enough for them.

Portugal had their chances, especially in the final moments of the match when Dias’s powerful header was stopped by goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, before Guerrero hit the post a few moments later.

Speaking after the match, Santos said: “We are disappointed and sad. Some of my players are crying in the locker room. They gave everything. Belgium had six shots, one of which went into the net. We had 29 hits and hit the post twice. Loss is loss. I honestly do not have much to say now.”

He underlined that the Portuguese team strongly believed that they would win Euro 2020 in an effort to defend the European crown they won in 2016.

“It simply came to our notice then. We believed and were convinced that we would reach the final and win. There is no justice and injustice, we conceded a goal and we did not manage to score any goal”, he added.