Portugal's chances in Euro 2024 could be affected by Roberto Martinez's steadfast belief in Cristiano Ronaldo, who currently may not be the team's main influencer.
The Seleção has progressed to the round of sixteen in Germany, but their fading star player hasn't contributed much to the team's success.
"This is a typical moment in Portuguese football." It perfectly illustrates how the team is everything, a concept that should be taught in every Portuguese academy and in the world of football. Most likely, that assist is more important than any goal scored.
After watching Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal assist Bruno Fernandes in scoring a goal against Turkey on Saturday, Roberto Martinez couldn't have been more generous in his praise. Following Ronaldo's "spectacular" pass across the area, all Fernandes had to do was tap the ball into an empty net; it was an easy finish.
It seems that Martinez may have been trying to shift attention from the fact that Ronaldo did not simply shoot the ball himself after being outplayed one-on-one by Turkey's goalkeeper Altay Bayindir. This was the kind of opportunity that Portugal's beloved player, in his prime, would have easily taken advantage of.
Although he currently holds the second-highest assist total in the history of the European Championship, Ronaldo has always been motivated by scoring goals. It was quite surprising to see him choose Fernandes over the chance for glory, and his hesitation suggests that, for the first time in his career, self-doubt had affected his performance.
It makes sense for a man approaching forty years old. The problem is that Martinez insists that Ronaldo should remain as Portugal's star player, despite clear signs that he is no longer able to lead the team.
Unmistakable Indicators of Decline
Currently, Ronaldo is going through the toughest slump of his career in World Cup and European Championship matches. The Al-Nassr player has not scored a goal in his last six major tournament games, and he failed to score in Portugal's crucial 2-1 victory against the Czech Republic on matchday one.
In the first two games of the 2024 European Championship, Ronaldo took the most shots (nine), but that doesn't necessarily mean he is finding good scoring opportunities. Despite making only two runs into the attacking third, his expected goals (xG) total is just 1.11. Ronaldo has seemed too rigid to effectively challenge his opponent with a stepover or shoulder feint, and even when he has attempted these moves, defenders have had little trouble dealing with him.
Rafael Leao, Bernardo Silva, and Fernandes have all been playing around Ronaldo, who appears unwilling to be involved in Portugal's build-up play. This approach would be fine if Ronaldo was still a skilled goal poacher, but aging has caught up with him. As he continues to start every game, it's difficult to ignore the idea that the Seleccao are not playing to their full potential.
Joao Felix, Diogo Jota, and Goncalo Ramos have been patiently waiting for their chance to make an impact. It must be frustrating for them to see Ronaldo receiving special treatment due to his past achievements. Martinez needs to recognize early on that Ronaldo is no longer the game-changer for Portugal if the team is to win the championship.
.png.webp)
0 Comments