On June 19, in the first round of Group F of the European Championship, Portugal came from behind to beat Czech Republic 2-1. Following the match, ESPN discussed whether Cristiano Ronaldo is an asset or liability for the Portuguese team.
ESPN began by analyzing Ronaldo’s performance on the pitch: “Ronaldo had the fewest touches (32) but the most shots (5). The 39-year-old veteran made history as the first player to feature in six European Championships. He receives warm applause from fans during warm-ups and celebrates every goal with his signature ‘siu’ style. He actively encourages younger players and remains the team’s captain and spiritual leader.”
Then, ESPN pondered whether Ronaldo should still be starting for Portugal: “After a narrow victory, questions should arise about how to improve in upcoming matches. At 41 years and 113 days, Pepe became the oldest player ever to appear in a European Championship match, while Ronaldo, at 39, is also battling against time. Ronaldo aims to defy aging, but he lost that battle in the knockout stages of the 2022 World Cup.”
ESPN Asks: Is Ronaldo a Boon or Burden for Portugal?. Author：Sports UEFA.Please indicate the source when reproduced：https://www.sportsuefa.com/football-world/8827.html
