On June 19th, in the first round of Group F at the European Championship, Portugal overcame Czech Republic with a 2-1 comeback victory. ESPN wrote an article after the game discussing whether Cristiano Ronaldo is a help or a hindrance to the Portuguese national team.
ESPN first addressed Ronaldo’s performance on the field: “Ronaldo had the fewest touches (32) but the most shots (5) on the field. The 39-year-old veteran started for Portugal, making him the first player in history to participate in six European Championships. He receives thunderous applause from fans during warm-ups, and every goal is celebrated with a passionate ‘siu’. Ronaldo actively encourages younger players, and he remains the captain and spiritual leader of the team.”
ESPN then offered a reflection, questioning whether Ronaldo should remain a starter for Portugal: “As Portugal narrowly secured victory, they should start thinking about how to play better in the upcoming matches. Pepe, at 41 years and 113 days, became the oldest player to ever appear in the European Championship, while the 39-year-old Ronaldo is also engaged in a similar struggle. Ronaldo hopes to slow down his aging process, but he lost that battle in the 2022 World Cup knockout stage.”
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