Portugal Manager Applauds Ronaldo’s Leadership in Shootout Victory Over Slovenia

• Portugal coach Roberto Martinez applauded captain Cristiano Ronaldo for recovering from his penalty miss to score in the shootouts
• The 2016 European champions defeated Slovenia on penalty on Monday night to progress to the quarter-final of Euro 2024
• Portugal will face two-time world champions France in the last eight on Friday with a place in the semi-final at stake

Portugal manager Roberto Martinez has hailed captain Cristiano Ronaldo for inspiring the team to victory in the Round of 16 game against Slovenia at the European Championship.

Ronaldo missed a penalty in extra time but kept his composure after taking the first kick in the shootouts as Portugal progressed to the quarter-final.

Goalkeeper Diogo Costa’s heroic display in the shootouts saw the 2016 champions win the game 3-0 on penalties.

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Martinez praised the Al-Nassr forward for showing great example by leading his side during the spot-kicks.

“First of all, Ronaldo is an example for us. He leads six Europeans and feels responsibility, desire and belief, which are incredible emotions for someone so experienced and who doesn’t need to prove anything,” he said, as quoted by Cabine Sport.

“After missing a penalty, which only those who take the penalty can miss and here we have to congratulate Oblak, he was the first to say that he had to score the first penalty in the tiebreaker, and he did.

“The locker room is delightful and this is a lesson that we have to live each day as if it were the last. Football creates difficulties, but we are very proud of it and Portuguese football.”

Portugal will now face France in a blockbuster quarter-final clash on Friday, July 5, for a place in the semi-final, per UEFA.

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Ronaldo switches attention to France

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has turned his attention to the upcoming quarter-final clash against France at the European Champions on Friday, July 5, 2024.

The 2016 champions defeated Slovenia on penalties to set up a blockbuster clash with the 2018 World Cup winners in the last eight of the competition.

Ronaldo, who missed a penalty in extra-time before converting in the shootouts, described the game against Les Blues as a ‘war’.