PORTUGUESE MEDIA WANT CRISTIANO RONALDO DROPPED WITH BRUTAL RATING GIVEN AFTER DRAMATIC SLOVENIA WIN
Cristiano Ronaldo has not been let off lightly back in his home country for his latest display at Euro 2024 as Portugal edged past Slovenia on penalties to stay in the tournament.
There was nothing to separate the two sides after 90 minutes with the game going into extra time.
Ronaldo was then given a golden opportunity to open his Euro 2024 account at the end of the first half of extra time.
Diogo Jota was brought down inside the box with Ronaldo stepping up to take the penalty.
However, the 39-year-old saw his spot-kick saved by Jan Oblak with Ronaldo bursting into tears.
Diogo Costa saved Ronaldo's blushes in the penalty shoot-out as the 24-year-old kept out all three of Slovenia's spot-kicks to send Portugal through.
But Portugal may need to make some changes to their side for what will likely be a much tougher test against France in the quarter-final.
Roberto Martinez has stuck with Ronaldo as his starting cente forward throughout the tournament with Goncalo Ramos limited to just 24 minutes of action off the bench.
The Portuguese boss also has Jota and Joao Felix who could play through the middle, but Ronaldo has remained first choice.
But the match against Slovenia was Ronaldo's fourth of the tournament without a goal and some Portuguese media feel the time is now for a change.
Portuguese publication Publico gave Ronaldo a brutal rating of 4/10 in what they felt was 'another poor performance from the captain'.
Their analysis continued: "Just like in the last game – although less so – he spent a lot of time on the ground.
"Then he made poor decisions in finishing areas, poor passes in front of goal – he ruined some plays – and was inaccurate in finishing, even though he only had a clear goal-scoring opportunity at the end of the second half.
"He also has a low success rate in free kicks, something that has been seen a lot.
"He missed a penalty. Ronaldo doesn't attack space, doesn't explore depth, doesn't offer football in front of goal and doesn't finish like he did at other times in his career – and it's debatable whether Ronaldo, in this form, is more of a virtue than a flaw for this team.
LATEST SPORT NEWS:
・Andy Murray withdraws from Wimbledon as tournament officials forced into drastic change
・Emma Raducanu airs true feelings on Andy Murray as Wimbledon icon prepares to bid farewell
A tearful Ronaldo said after the match: "Even the strongest people have their [bad] days. I was at rock bottom when the team needed me the most.
"Sadness at the start is joy at the end. That's what football is. Moments, inexplicable moments. I feel sad and happy at the same time.
"But the important thing is to enjoy it. The team did an extraordinary job. We fought right to the end and I think we deserved it because we had more authority."
2024-07-02T11:09:52Z dg43tfdfdgfd