This is the reason for Portugal’s dependency on Cristiano Ronaldo is that the dependence of Portugal on Ronaldo cost them dearly.

In spite of Cristiano Ronaldo’s lackluster performance in Euro 2024, Portugal coach Martinez focused his team around the star player, which eventually resulted in their exile from Euros.

By Gab Marcotti

Jul 05, 2024 11:59 PM

Hamburg, Germany — Cristiano Ronaldo stood in the midst of his team, with hands resting on hips, lips closed and his eyes glancing out at the Portuguese crowd that surrounded the goal.

Ruben Dias and Nuno Mendes the two players who beat France athlete Kylian Mbappe in their earlier match, embraced the cheers. Ronaldo took part and started to embrace Pepe whom he was sidekick in many fights, and the older brother, who was waiting for the curtain in his 41st match. Pepe was crying, Ronaldo whispered in his Pepe’s ear. Pepe.

The time was when Ronaldo was just like the other players from the Portugal team and was unified in his displeasure. He did not appear like Cristiano Ronaldo the GOAT contender. Perhaps If Portugal director Roberto Martinez had picked up this earlier, we’d have reported the incident in a different manner.

It was because Martinez through playing Ronaldo throughout the game (bar the final half hour in Georgia) (barring the final twenty-five minutes)was more focused on giving him opportunities to conclude an additional chapter in his career, rather than providing Portugal the best chance for winning.

The numbers are cold and gruesome. Ronaldo scored 23 shots during the tournament, which is second in number of shots ever scored by an athlete who did not score in this tournament. Euros have been in existence since the format of the group stage was first introduced in 1980. Ronaldo’s expected goals in the amount of 3.51 without scoring was the most goals ever scored in an important tournament for males from the year 1980.

Maybe Martinez was thinking about the fact that Ronaldo was an all-star in every major event which he was a part of (five World Cups and five Euros) and then told Ronaldo: “Hey, he’s clearly due. ” If this is the case, then Martinez is the same person who puts bets that the Washington Generals to beat the Harlem Globetrotters because “they’re due. “

Yes, Ronaldo has just finished an amazing season with his participation in the Saudi Pro League and yes the slowing down to his normal pace is an issue. It’s possible that over time, he’ll be in a position to catch up to his xG. But, the most important factor is the time. It’s an event that is knockout. You’ll make a mistake and there’s no third chance. All of the top players can be affected by dry spells.

It’s not only about numbers, but also what Martinez’s eyes and cerebral cortex were telling Martinez (or might have told Martinez).

Yes, he created an atmosphere around Ronaldo that accentuated his strengths while obscuring any weaknesses best of his abilities. He could. Rafael Leao, in the left wing, was at the top of his game when Portugal was in defense and that there was always a player with the ability to play”the “out ball” in the event of a need. Bruno Fernandes was allowed to play shadows in the area, similar to a striker who was an additional. Bernardo Silva and Joao Cancelo were able to offer crosses on their left. In the corner, that featured Pepe and Ronaldo working together with the center-backs of the opposition, appeared to be created for play by Ronaldo.

It worked in qualifying, and even did well against France throughout the game (though this could also result from Didier Deschamps’ stance of a conservative) due to the fact that Portugal was the most likely to win. However, eventually, surely, it was apparent to Martinez the magnitude of the burden Ronaldo’s lack of mobility out of the ball, which impacted his midfield as well as the amount of opportunities he didn’t make the most of.

It might have occurred to Ronaldo as well. In the first half in extra duration, Francisco Conceicao took a shot through the opposition before launching back at him, close to the goal post. An older Ronaldo would have slowed to get the ball and then directed it towards the goal’s corner. Old Ronaldo removed the ball from the field and hit through into the goalline.

After a couple of minutes the ball was completely thrown into an uni-man on a rampage that pulled strength from the air before speeding toward Dayot Upadocano who took him off his feet and kicked his ball away. It was the case that in past times, Ronaldo was likely to have got close to the ball, but Upamecano changing his direction and dropped it on Mike Maignan. In the event that they both arrived at the same time, it was Upamecano hit him, not the reverse.

To quote Slim Charles from “The Wire”: “The thing about the old times was… it was are the old days. “

The most fascinating aspect is that it’s an infection that has already been slashed. Ronaldo was eliminated from the knockout stages in Martinez’s previous coach Fernando Santos, at the Qatar World Cup just 18 months ago. If Santos was an assistant coach for Portugal over a period of eight years, which included Ronaldo’s peak years, he would have taken over from him as Portugal triumphed at the nation’s first (and only) large event, Euro 2016 (with Ronaldo injured during the semi-finals, sitting right next to his assistant coach) could have done it, so why shouldn’t Martinez?

In particular, considering Martinez’s own history. He’s not Portuguese and didn’t grow in the Ronaldo-as-saviour-psychodrama. He’s a brilliant coach who learned the difficult way, both as an athlete and manager. He was an outsider hired to provide a new perspectives.

In truth, he appeared to be an individual who had taken one sip of Kool-Aid. In the game, Portugal had the upper hand — and blame for that is on Martinez and his coach was pounding Deschamps out of the park and his signature attacking style was evident was evident like Martinez had a goal in mind to keep his focus on not just advance beyond France but to play with Ronaldo in a leading role.

Did he not trust Goncalo Ramos, or Diogo Jota when they said that they would take the bench off for a short time or did he believe that the wait was on for Ronaldo to redeem himself for his penalty missed and also for his missed chance during the last minute to take the lead against Slovenia? If he did then it’s only going to increase the severity.

This is partly due to the Slovenia match (and the 120 minutes Ronaldo was in) could have demonstrated the effects of fatigue on players who are 38. Most importantly, Ronaldo doesn’t need anyone to provide him with any kind or reward (let even an opportunity to get any type or redemption). With the accomplishments he’s made, he’s higher than the sum of his accomplishments.

Did he think Ronaldo to appear at the bench and say to the bench “Boss I’m tired I’m exhausted, this isn’t happening to me today, so let’s make a change? ” This is a complete nonsense. The elite athletes are awash in confidence in themselves and self-confidence. Ronaldo exudes it through all of his pores. The thought of him removing his own game was a blunder.

The problem is that Mbappe made history when he scored the club’s first European Championship goal vs. Poland through penalty, was told to be substituted due to the fact that the fatigue in his body made him unfit to perform in the extra period.

Portugal isn’t completely out of Euros since Ronaldo took part for 120 mins. Let’s clarify this. Portugal were penalized for a mistake when Joao Felix pushed his foot in the goalpost while everyone else scored. They failed to take advantage of the many opportunities they could have had beginning with Leao in the first half, before Fernandes at the end of second-half then with Vitinha after the break, and finally Mendes after the end of extra-time.

But the way they go about leaving this Euros creates a bad odor and the impression that Martinez believed blindly the idea that pushing Ronaldo forward would somehow protect his name.

Ronaldo’s name is secure. It doesn’t need to be secured. Perhaps If Martinez had recognized this earlier maybe if he had viewed him as just member of the team like he did in the closing moments, he would have been applauding the crowd and encouraging his team Portugal could be in the semi-finals.