It may be harsh to say that Real Madrid and Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo has not shown-up at Euro 2016, but the forward has endured a frustrating few weeks. The 31-year-old has had a lot to say about Portugal’s opponents, as Fernando Santos’ team drew their opening three games in France.
A third draw in 3-3 draw in their finally group game against Hungary was only good enough to see Ronaldo and Co. finish third and seal a last-16 clash with dark horses Croatia.
Ronaldo played a key role in his country salvaging a draw and a place in the last-16. Three times they feel behind to a highly confident Hungarian outfit inspired mercurial winger Balazs Dzsudzsak, who scored twice.
Ronaldo also scored twice and boy did his country need those goals. Every time Hungary scored Portugal were on a plane back home, as they lurch from potential exit to potential exit, but Ronaldo first scored a sublime flicked effort from ten yards, before scoring a rather more everyday headed effort for the third equaliser.
In truth, Ronaldo is expected to bear the burden of his country’s attack on his shoulders and usually delivers, but his international teammates seem to almost stand and admire his skills.
For all his qualities he seems to take command of every set-piece, for all his quality his free-kicks have been poor in France and one of his teammates needs to have the personality to demand to take the set-pieces.
In general Ronaldo now seems to have rediscovered his best form. However, he will have to be at his best if his team are going to defeat the highly-rated Croatia in the last-16.