Rumors are circulating that Cristiano Ronaldo will have to sit on the bench at Euro 2024
2 min read
Cristiano Ronaldo failed to score in Portugal’s opening match against the Czech Republic at Euro 2024. There are rumors suggesting that he might have to sit on the bench for the match against Turkey.
In the game against the Czech Republic,Cristiano Ronaldo played the full 90 minutes. Despite several dangerous opportunities created by his teammates, CR7 was unable to find the back of the net. While Ronaldo’s performance wasn’t poor, for a top contender like Portugal, missing crucial chances could hinder their progress.
Before Portugal began their journey in Euro 2024, there was controversy surrounding Ronaldo’s participation in his sixth Euro campaign. Former French player Frank Leboeuf suggested that Ronaldo’s 18-month stint in Saudi Arabia might have diminished his prowess and class, questioning whether Portugal could go far or even win Euro 2024 with him.
Martinez, however, defended Ronaldo’s inclusion in the national team based on his track record, not just his name. Ronaldo’s impressive record of 50 goals in 51 matches was cited, along with his 10 goals in their qualifying matches.
Despite Martinez’s defense, Ronaldo’s underwhelming performance against the Czech Republic might force Martinez to reconsider. According to A Bola, there is a possibility that CR7 could start on the bench in the upcoming match against Turkey on June 22nd, 2024, at 23:00.
The report suggests that Martinez will carefully weigh the impact of this decision. Against the Czech Republic, Ronaldo played the entire match. Facing Turkey, there are two scenarios: Ronaldo could start on the bench and come on in the second half, or if he starts and continues to miss chances, he might be substituted before the 60th minute.
Ronaldo’s current situation echoes what happened in the 2022 World Cup. In the group stage, he played a central role for Portugal. However, in the knockout stage, coach Fernando Santos opted to bench Ronaldo for Goncalo Ramos starting from the round of 16 against Switzerland. Ronaldo only came on in the second half as Portugal suffered defeat against Morocco in the quarter-finals.
The upcoming decisions regarding Ronaldo’s role in the team will be crucial for Portugal’s ambitions in Euro 2024.
