As Portugal struggled against the Czech Republic, questions were raised about Cristiano Ronaldo's role in the team. Some people thought that if CR7 didn't score, what would he bring to the team other than showing his frustration on the pitch?
The 39-year-old striker doesn’t get involved in pressing, doesn’t drop back to defend and has spent 18 months in the Saudi Pro League. So why is Roberto Martinez so determined to keep him in the starting line-up?
In his post-match press conference, Martinez deftly answered the doubters with a counter-question: “Do you know how many minutes Ronaldo played last season?” The answer was nearly 4,000. The Portugal captain went on to explain that Ronaldo had not simply joined the team to reach the 250-cap mark.
The Spaniard has stressed Ronaldo's experience, understanding and ability to handle pressure, which will be crucial in tough games like the one against Türkiye in Dortmund, where 23,000 of the Reds' fans will be there to cheer them on.
Ronaldo scored 51 goals in 50 games last season, proving he is still fit enough to play every four days. Martinez insists the Portuguese superstar is not in the squad because of his reputation but because he deserves it.
Despite not scoring at EURO 2024, Ronaldo has still found a way to be useful. Martinez pointed out that Francisco Conceicao's goal against the Czech Republic was thanks to CR7 creating space for his teammates.
In qualifying, Ronaldo scored 10 goals in nine games as Portugal won 1-0. Although he did not score against Türkiye, he made some notable plays, although not always successfully. Ronaldo fell while trying to collect the ball from Nuno Mendes for Bernardo Silva's goal. He also missed another chance when he was angry with Joao Cancelo for an inaccurate pass. Ronaldo blamed himself for not making the most of the volley and subsequent header.
During the match, Ronaldo was chased by more excited fans than Turkish defenders. Four people approached the 1985-born star, disrupting the match and making him angry.
Ronaldo took a selfie with the first person but when the second person jumped from the roof onto the pitch, he couldn't contain his annoyance. Bernardo Silva had to say: "That's what you have to accept when you're the most loved player in world football."
Another key moment was when Ruben Neves passed the ball to Ronaldo, creating a golden opportunity. Instead of finishing himself, CR7 passed the ball to Bruno Fernandes to score. Martinez praised Ronaldo's decision, calling it "a pure moment of Portuguese football".
Roberto Martinez stressed that competition is strong in the squad and there could be changes for the final group game against Georgia. However, whether Ronaldo will play or sit out next Thursday remains a big question mark.
Cristiano Ronaldo is not at EURO 2024 just to take selfies. The Al-Nassr striker is here to win a second European Championship. If CR7 can’t score, he will find other ways to help Portugal achieve that goal. Martinez’s commitment to Ronaldo is not just based on his reputation, it is also a respect for the talent, experience and relentless fighting spirit of one of the greatest players of all time.
Regardless of the controversy surrounding Ronaldo's presence, it cannot be denied that CR7 is still an important part of the Portuguese team in their journey to conquer EURO 2024.
Source: https://laodong.vn/bong-da-quoc-te/ronaldo-la-sieu-sao-mang-tinh-bieu-tuong-cua-bong-da-bo-dao-nha-1356445.ldo
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