It has happened in match after match in this championship. Cristiano Ronaldo’s performances on the pitch have been heavily criticized. And after the European Championship exit on penalties against France, Ronaldo receives a tough European Championship judgment from one of the truly great legends. – Ronaldo has always been good and decisive, but this tournament was bad. He has to understand that he can no longer help the team, and I think he will understand that now too, says Marco van Basten in the TV company NOS’s EC studio. The Dutchman was a superstar in the 80s and 90s. Now he is just one of several who criticize Ronaldo. It happened after a dramatic EC exit. Demanding situation news expert Åge Hareide is also critical of the Portuguese superstar’s performance. – I think he stands still too much. He wants posts in the box and he hopes they go down to hit posts so that he can take the space on the first post. You are dependent on a striker who shows himself on the ball side. He has a far greater radius to work in than he can now, says Hareide about Ronaldo. Ronaldo had his dream chance during the match, but put the dream chance high over the goal in the first extra time. Photo: Andreea Alexandru / AP Expert colleague Kristoffer Løkberg believes the situation with Ronaldo is demanding for Portugal. He believes the superstar is being used incorrectly by manager Roberto Martinez. – There is a world star on the field who demands the ball, then they almost have to hit. Even when it’s the wrong choice. Good players are characterized by it. It has been so demanding for Martinez and his teammates in this Ronaldo situation, says Løkberg and continues: – If this development continues, then Portugal will be better off without him in the squad, says Løkberg about Ronaldo’s future. Ronaldo himself despaired after Portugal’s penalty shootout loss. Ended in tears – Clink in the post, not even on the inside. It’s brutal, says news expert Carl-Erik Torp about the miss, which was decisive in the penalty shootout. Because there, the Portuguese Félix was the only one who missed. The pictures show how his teammates comforted the star player after the penalty shootout, when it was all decided in France’s favour. Portugal star Rafael Leão was very down after the loss. – The fans were fantastic, unfortunately it has come to an end. I do not know what to say. I think we created a lot of chances, but we didn’t win. Unfortunately during the penalties, luck was with France, says Leão after the match. He says that he was hurt by Felix missing the penalty kick. – He has a tough night, but I think he will manage to get the best out of it. He is important to us now and in the future, he says. It was extra tough when all the other players were safe from the penalty spot. Among them was also Cristiano Ronaldo. He had pressed his shoulders as he stepped forward to take Portugal’s first penalty. And put it. – He has his own ability to handle these moments. Crazy impressive, says Torp about Ronaldo’s penalty. And so the players on both teams continued to score until the great talent João Félix stepped forward. FRENCH CELEBRATION: After France scored on all five penalties, they could celebrate their semi-final place. Photo: Andreea Alexandru / AP When Theo Hernandez scored France’s last penalty, the EC was over for Portugal. – France’s penalties are absolutely fantastic, says news expert Åge Hareide. France will now face Spain in the semi-finals. – We are all very happy for this victory and in the penalty shootout we managed it. Portugal is a very difficult team to win against, but I think we deserved this victory, says French Ousmane Dembele. Pepe after France had decided the penalty shootout. Photo: Carmen Jaspersen / Reuters Got a dream chance There was no shortage of drama even before the quarter-finals were decided. And what was at stake was shown, among other things, when Ronaldo was in front of the goal two minutes into the first extra period. – What a chance he gets. He gets it served there, exclaimed Andreas Stabrun Smith. Cristiano Ronaldo could have sent Porutgal further into the EC and embellished his historic statistics. But in his sixth EC, things have not gone Ronaldo’s way. The ball went high over the goal. Ronaldo despaired. – He has barely touched the ball, added news profiler Tete Lidbom about Ronaldo. Photo: FRANCK FIFE / AFP During the match, the BBC reported that Ronaldo had 11 touches of the ball, which was the fewest in the match. – After the debate that has raged about Ronaldo’s role in this team, I have to say that he is incredibly little involved. The question of whether he contributes more than he is to the load still remains unanswered, commented news’s Stabrun Smith in the second half. – Those who think he contributes do think that he ties things up a bit, but it’s really not so good to see that always either, he added. And Ronaldo’s game was actually so weak that it surprised news expert Åge Hareide. – It is actually very surprising. He has been “standstill” inside the 16-metre area for France. But he has also complained a lot because he has not received the service he should have, says Hareide. Published 05.07.2024, at 23.43 Updated 06.07.2024, at 00.26
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Legend makes merciless Ronaldro verdict: – He must understand – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
