EURO 2024 is days away, and many fans are waiting to see some of the biggest national teams in the world go head-to-head this summer. One of the favorites to win the EUROS this summer is the Portuguese national team, and Cristiano Ronaldo will be playing in the sixth EUROS of his career. Despite being 39 years old, Ronaldo continues to be at a very high level, and he showcased this in a friendly match against Ireland. This 3-0 win over Ireland was the last preparation match for the EUROS, and CR7 scored a brace, but he gave sad news as he believes that the end of his career is very close. Ronaldo said, “I don’t have many years left in football… so, I have to enjoy it”. “I’m in love with football. Every game is special, imagine at the Euros with Portugal, you feel proud... it’s a dream, like when I was 20.” Despite knowing that the end of his career is near, he talks highly about the team’s motivation to win the EUROS again.
Ronaldo was asked about believing in winning it like they did in 2016, and he said, “This should be the idea. We have to be positive, step by step, but we have to dream. This team must dream because of the talent it possesses, even though talent without work means nothing.”
Ronaldo did not play in the friendly match against Croatia over the weekend, which resulted in a 2-1 loss for Portugal. CR7 talked about the criticism received, and he said, “Success is only achieved through criticism. It’s normal. With what the Portuguese expect of us, there is no margin for error. They always expect Portugal to win, given the talent we have. Defeat is bad, but here you take the good things and learn from them. Without defeats you will learn nothing.”
Many assume that after Ronaldo’s impressive brace against Ireland, he would secure a starting spot in the lineup, but the manager of the Portuguese national team, Roberto Martinez, did not want to make any assurances. Martinez said, “I’m in a period where I’m not thinking about the starting lineup. Cristiano’s commitment as captain is unbelievable. Today, we saw two world-class goals, but what I liked was working and trying to help. He scored two goals.”
Martinez did show praise for Ronaldo’s commitment to remain at a high level at 39 years old. The manager said, “What amazes me about Cristiano is that he always challenges his age. After every training session, the coaching staff and I are amazed that he is the player who has achieved everything. He is obsessed with winning, obsessed with being the best, obsessed with this perfection that he wants to achieve in his career. This is contagious to the players. The young people around him.”
26/07/2024
26/07/2024
26/07/2024
26/07/2024
26/07/2024
26/07/2024
26/07/2024
26/07/2024
26/07/2024
25/07/2024
25/07/2024
25/07/2024
25/07/2024
25/07/2024
25/07/2024
25/07/2024
25/07/2024
25/07/2024