Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said the 2-1 defeat to Italy ‘hits hard’, but admitted the Azzurri ‘deserved to win’ the quarter-final in Munich.
Italy have set up a semi-final date with Spain at EURO 2020 after beating Belgium in an action packed evening at the Allianz Arena in Germany.
Nicolò Barella and Lorenzo Insigne scored for Italy, before Romelu Lukaku pulled one back from the penalty spot.
Belgium and Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was downbeat after the elimination, but said the Azzurri were worthy winners.
“This hits hard,” Courtois told BBC after the game. “But we knew it was going to be a tough game.
“We had two opportunities but their keeper made a good save and I think we gave the first goal away a bit to easily.
“It really could have gone either way, but Italy deserved to win here.”