Following Portugal's heartbreaking quarter-final defeat to France via penalty shootout at EURO 2024, captain Cristiano Ronaldo took to his social media to express his disappointment.
Heartbroken Ronaldo Feels Portugal Deserved Better at EURO 2024
Ronaldo firmly believes Portugal deserved a better outcome in the tournament. The match remained scoreless after regulation time, but France dominated the penalty shootout, defeating Portugal 5-3. Despite the loss, Ronaldo acknowledged the unwavering support of the Portuguese fans, thanking them for their dedication. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner vowed to uphold Portugal's legacy and keep striving for future success.
“We wanted more. We deserved more. For us. For each one of you. For Portugal. We are grateful for everything you have given us and for everything we have achieved so far. On and off the field, I am sure that this legacy will be honored and will continue to be built. Together,” Ronaldo wrote.
Cristiano Ronaldo's international career hangs in the balance after Portugal's disappointing exit from EURO 2024. This tournament, which Ronaldo had declared his final European Championship appearance, saw him fail to find the net despite playing all five matches, managing only one assist.
Cristiano Ronaldo's quest for another European Championship title with Portugal ended in heartbreak on Friday night. After a tense 120 minutes that saw both teams fail to find the net in regulation and extra time, the match went down to a penalty shootout. Unfortunately for Portugal, France stepped up in the high-pressure situation, converting all five of their penalty attempts. Despite Portugal's valiant effort, they were unable to score a single penalty, ultimately falling 5-3 to their rivals. While Portugal controlled the quarter-final clash against France in Hamburg, dominating possession with 60 per cent compared to France's 40%, they were ultimately unable to capitalise. The match remained scoreless after regulation and extra time, forcing a penalty shootout. Unfortunately, Joao Felix missed Portugal's only penalty, putting them at a disadvantage. France capitalised on this miss, securing a 5-3 penalty shootout victory. This defeat marks a disappointing end to Portugal's Euro 2024 campaign and leaves Ronaldo without a trophy in what he has declared to be his final European Championship appearance.
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