๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐๐ง๐จ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐๐จ ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐! ๐๐ฅ๐๐ง ๐๐ก๐๐๐ซ๐๐ซ ๐ฌ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐๐๐ซ๐ญ ๐๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐๐ณ ๐ก๐๐ฌ '๐ง๐จ ๐๐ก๐จ๐ข๐๐' ๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ '๐๐๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐' ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฅ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐๐ญ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐จ ๐๐๐๐
Alan Shearer believes that Roberto Martinez has "no choice" but to use a "desperate" Cristiano Ronaldo at Euro 2024.
WHAT HAPPENED โ
Ronaldo has been lacklustre for Portugal during Euro 2024 prompting his critics to question his place in the starting lineup and his right to take set-pieces. The Al-Nassr forward has scored just once in his last 60 attempts in major tournaments and Shearer believes that he should be stripped of set-piece duties due to his poor conversion rate.
WHAT SHEARER SAID โ
Speaking to Betfair, Shearer said: โWith Ronaldo against Slovenia, it was all about Ronaldo, wasnโt it? He wanted to take every free-kick, despite him only scoring one in his last 60 attempts in major tournaments. One free-kick in 60 and heโs taking them from the touchline to try to score from there. Heโs desperate to get a goal."
Shearer emphasized that Martinez's hands are tied when it comes to Ronaldo's inclusion in the team. "I donโt think Martinez has a choice - Ronaldo plays. We saw that in their third game when Portugal had already qualified, only three players had started from the previous 11 and Ronaldo was one of them. But Martinez doesnโt have a choice, if Ronaldo is fit Ronaldo plays. Thatโs the rule, Iโm afraid."
THE BIGGER PICTURE โ
Against Slovenia, Ronaldo missed a crucial penalty during extra time, which left him in tears. His teammates and manager, Roberto Martinez, were there to console him and he managed to redeem himself by converting Portugal's first spot-kick in the subsequent shootout. And Shearer believes that Ronaldo should be hailed for delivering in such a pressure situation.
"He took that penalty and missed it, although he deserves great credit for the way he took the first penalty in the shootout because the pressure on him was absolutely huge," he added.
WHAT NEXT FOR RONALDO โ
While Ronaldo's determination and influence are undeniable, his current form has sparked debate about his role in the team. He has yet to score at Euro 2024, but he will have another chance to break his duck when Portugal face France in the quarter-finals on Friday.
Reference from goal.com
