In a dramatic opening match at the 2024 European Championship, Portugal secured a narrow 2-1 victory against the Czech Republic. However, the spotlight was not just on the win but also on the allegations that some Portuguese players deliberately avoided passing the ball to their captain, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Portugal’s Narrow Win
In their first tournament match, Portugal had to come from behind to clinch their win against the Czech Republic. Cristiano Ronaldo, returning to the national team under coach Roberto Martínez, was part of the starting lineup but failed to make a significant impact. Young substitute Francisco Conceição scored the decisive goal in stoppage time, sealing the victory for Portugal.
The Controversy
While commenting on the match for talkSPORT, former England international Stuart Pearce raised concerns about Ronaldo’s apparent lack of trust with his teammates. Pearce suggested that the Portuguese players seemed reluctant to pass the ball to the 39-year-old Al Nassr forward, hinting at a possible lack of confidence in his abilities.
“This might sound absurd, but maybe they don’t trust Ronaldo enough, so they don’t keep passing the ball to him. There were moments in the game when he was in position to receive the ball, but they didn’t pass it to his feet,” Pearce commented.
He highlighted a particular instance involving Bernardo Silva, who had an opportunity to pass to Ronaldo but chose not to. “Bernardo Silva made a passing error that got intercepted. He was in the middle of the pitch, and Ronaldo was making a run inside right. I thought, ‘If this were ten years ago, you would have passed the ball to him, knowing he would get there and score.’ Silva hesitated, and I found that quite strange.”
Ronaldo’s Reaction
Despite the subdued performance, Czech head coach Ivan Hašek lauded Ronaldo as a “genius” after the match. Ronaldo’s influence on the game might not have been as pronounced as in his prime years, but his presence and leadership remain critical to the Portuguese squad.
Looking Ahead
Ronaldo and his Portuguese teammates are set to face Turkey next, who emerged victorious in their opening match against Georgia. The upcoming game will be crucial for Portugal to secure their position in the tournament and for Ronaldo to demonstrate his enduring value to the team.
As the European Championship progresses, the dynamics within the Portuguese squad will be closely watched. Whether this perceived lack of trust in Ronaldo will continue to be a talking point or if the veteran forward will silence his critics with his performance remains to be seen.
Conclusion
The allegations that Portugal’s players deliberately did not pass to Cristiano Ronaldo have added an unexpected layer of drama to their Euro 2024 campaign. While the team celebrated a hard-fought victory over the Czech Republic, the focus now shifts to their upcoming matches and how they will navigate internal team dynamics and external scrutiny. Ronaldo’s response on the pitch will be crucial as Portugal aims to advance further in the tournament.
