“Time beat him. Time takes everybody out. It’s undefeated,” echoed Rocky Balboa in “Creed,” a sentiment painfully related to Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, who struggled to make his mark of their Euro 2024 spherical of 16 conflict towards Slovenia on Monday.
The sight of a tearful Ronaldo, consoled by teammates after lacking an important penalty in additional time that might have secured Portugal a spot within the quarterfinals earlier than a shootout win, created a cathartic picture that resonated with followers worldwide.
Portugal gained 3-0 on penalties minutes later, with Ronaldo changing the primary spot kick and apologizing to followers within the stands instantly after scoring earlier than breaking down in tears following the sport and being unable to complete an interview.
His tears confirmed extra than simply the sorrow or guilt of a participant feeling the load of duty from nearly letting his nation down. They had been the tears of a annoyed participant who anticipated greatness however was not the difference-maker he as soon as was.
During the 2022 World Cup, Ronaldo stated, “The best timing is my timing,” as he arrived in Qatar along with his profession in turmoil, about to depart Manchester United to play in Saudi Arabia.
Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, had arrived with a mission to show he might nonetheless make a distinction on the world stage. But he ended the event on the bench and had no impression in its place within the 1-0 quarterfinal loss to Morocco.
After that defeat, the stunning picture of Ronaldo operating to the tunnel in tears, as desolate because the soccer world had ever seen him, was one thing Portugal followers weren’t used to.
But with longtime Portugal supervisor Fernando Santos gone and newcomer Roberto Martinez trusting him with the captaincy and a management position in a younger and proficient squad, Ronaldo was given one other shot at glory in Euro 2024.
Despite being a mannequin of longevity for greater than twenty years in an impressive profession, breaking quite a few information and enjoying for among the greatest golf equipment on the planet, Ronaldo has been a shadow of his outdated self over the past two weeks in Germany.
Lacking the velocity, explosion, and agility that had been his logos whereas pouncing on balls like a tiger to plunder objectives in numerous ways in which solely he was capable of, the 2024 model of Ronaldo has but to attain at this Euros after 4 video games.
Against Slovenia, simply as within the earlier three video games, his capturing was off-kilter, and his headers failed to hassle keeper Jan Oblak, whereas his teammates appeared to be forcing the ball to him, disrupting Portugal’s tempo and slowing them down.
At 39, Ronaldo would have turn out to be the oldest participant to attain in a European Championship if he had netted his extra-time penalty, however he didn’t beat the wonderful Oblak, and as a substitute of reduction got here desperation.
Martinez nonetheless trusted him to take the primary penalty within the shootout and Ronaldo duly delivered to assist Portugal keep alive on the Euros, with a number of information that he’s nonetheless looking for.
They will face France within the quarterfinals with the world questioning whether or not Ronaldo’s sensible worldwide profession is nearing an finish. There might nonetheless be a contented ending for one of many world’s greatest-ever gamers – solely time will inform.
Source: www.dailysabah.com