(Leipzig) Insatiable Cristiano Ronaldo! While he finished the World Cup in Qatar as a substitute, the five-time Ballon d’Or has once again become important for Portugal and should once again guide his team on Tuesday in Leipzig against the Czech Republic for the start of the tournament. Seleçao contender for Euro-2024.
His last major international tournament, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Ronaldo finished on the bench. Replacing in the round of 16 then during the quarter-final lost to Morocco, he left the stage in tears.
The German Euro then seemed very far away and the downgrading seemed definitive, especially since CR7 had immediately joined the Saudi championship and its air of golden retirement.
But if CR7’s legs are going a little slower, his mentality and his rage to win have remained those of always and the former Real Madrid striker has returned to the selection as if nothing had happened.
The new coach, Roberto Martinez, trusts him and Ronaldo, now 39 years old, had a very solid Euro qualifying campaign with 10 goals scored.
During the Seleçao’s last preparation match, last Tuesday, he scored two more against Northern Ireland and he will therefore appear on Tuesday against the Czechs and their promising youth at the head of the staggering record of 130 goals in 207 selections.
“I love football and records are just a consequence. It’s not a goal for me, they come naturally,” summarized the man who is preparing to play his sixth Euro, another record of course, to the press during the Seleçao’s arrival in Germany.
“I’m happy to play a sixth Euro and I want to make the most of it, playing well, giving everything I have and making sure the team can win,” he added. But CR7 probably has in mind to do a little more than just “play well” and enjoy the mild German summer.
“Knowing Cristiano, he continues to dream big. And we will follow him,” Manchester United and Seleçao defender Diogo Dalot confirmed this week.
“It is important to manage expectations because they are high given our qualities. But we have in mind what we have to do,” explained Paris SG midfielder Vitinha.
“It will be important to show how much we want to win and be protagonists of this Euro. We will have to show that we are strong,” he added.
Winning, the word is out and it confirms that Portugal, which is playing in a group within its reach with, in addition to the Czech Republic, Turkey and Georgia, is the outsider of the first row behind the trio of favorites which emerge naturally (France, England, Germany).
“Dreaming is free! The team is always hungry for titles,” explained central defender Pepe (41), who was of course there in 2016 when the Seleçao won the Euro, beating France in the final.
Cristiano, forced out with an injury in the 25th minute, was then transformed into assistant coach. On the field, on the bench, or at the edge of the pitch, all titles are worth taking for him.
“I believe that this generation deserves to win another trophy of this importance,” admitted the Portuguese legend.