– It is a bit sad if this is to mark his legacy. What a career, what a footballer. He is on the list of the world’s best of all time. But it bothers me a little that we didn’t get to see Portugal with another forward type in this European Championship, says news’s expert Kristoffer Løkberg about Cristiano Ronaldo after the European Championship exit against France.. Ronaldo has heard that during the championship. For several years he has been perhaps the best player in the world. But now the superstar receives a merciless EC sentence. – Ronaldo has delivered a very weak championship, and he is a shadow of the player he once was. It’s not surprising when you think about how many years he has been at the highest level, but based on his performance in this European Championship he has perhaps been Portugal’s weakest?, says TV 2’s football expert Jesper Mathisen to his own channel. The criticism comes after a dramatic EC exit for Portugal on penalties. 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 quarter-final against France, but put it 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 Martínez. – 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 has his own ability to handle these moments. Crazy impressive, says Torp about Ronaldo’s penalty. FRENCH CELEBRATION: After France scored on all five penalties, they could celebrate their semi-final place. Photo: Andreea Alexandru / AP But when Theo Hernandez scored France’s last penalty, the EC was over for both Portugal and Ronaldo. – 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 Dembélé after the match. Pepe after France had decided the penalty shootout. Photo: Carmen Jaspersen / Reuters Got a dream chance There was also no shortage of drama before the quarter-finals were decided. And what was at stake was shown, among other things, when Ronaldo despaired after his mega-chance in the first extra period. – What a chance he gets. He gets it served there, exclaimed Andreas Stabrun Smith. Cristiano Ronaldo could have sent Portugal through to the European Championship and embellished his historic statistics. But in his sixth EC, things have not gone Ronaldo’s way. – He has barely touched the ball, stated news profiler Tete Lidbom about Ronaldo. Photo: FRANCK FIFE / AFP And during the match, the BBC reported that Ronaldo had had 11 touches of the ball, which was the fewest in the match. 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 00.46
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