Emmanuel Langelier, Media365 Published on Sunday, June 23, 2024 at 11:47 am
While he could have scored the 15th goal of the European Championship, Cristiano Ronaldo preferred to be selfless against Turkey (3-0) by serving up Bruno Fernandes. It is a position that was unanimously welcomed.
The schedule for the Round of 16 of Euro 2024 begins after the second day’s matches. After Germany and Spain qualified, Portugal, in turn, won a ticket to qualify for the round of 16 in the competition on Saturday. Having already narrowly beaten the Czech Republic (2-1), this time the Seleção had much less difficulty beating Turkey (3-0) on Saturday. After a draw between Georgia and the Czech Republic (1-1) in the other match in the group, Roberto Martinez's men left their mark and showed that they are favorites to win the title and the second title after the victory at the Stade de France. Against the Blues in overtime in 2016 (1-0).
Roberto Martinez praises 'pure moment in football'
After the achievements of Bernardo Silva (22nd minute) and the amazing own goal scored by Samet Akaydin (28th minute), Bruno Fernandes added the second goal in the second half in the 56th minute. A goal that sparked a lot of talk because it could have been scored by Cristiano Ronaldo. But, alone facing the Turkish goalkeeper after a pass from Ruben Neves behind the opponent's defence, the top scorer in Euro history (14) preferred to serve his compatriot – and former Manchester United teammate – and show altruism, instantly becoming the best. Passer in Euro history with the seventh pass. A position that impressed everyone. The Portuguese fans, who chanted CR7's name at length to the tune of the White Stripes' Seven Nation Army, as well as his partners and coach.
“We saw something unbelievable for me. To have Cristiano a goalscorer, who lives only for the goal and arrives in front of the goalkeeper and looks for the assist for Bruno Fernandes… It was a pure moment in football,” stressed Roberto Martinez. “This is an example that we must show.” In all training centers in Portugal and even around the world, the team is the most important thing and this assist means more than any goal.” And on Wednesday, Portugal returns to face Georgia. If he plays, which is not certain because the Lusitano technician will certainly tend to rotate, Cristiano Ronaldo will try Improving his record by scoring for the fifteenth time in a European Championship.
