Coach Roberto Martinez returned this Friday to highlight the importance of Cristiano Ronaldo in the Portugal national team as they prepare to participate in Euro 2024 and even considered that the captain is a unique case in world football.
“Ronaldo is ready to help the team and give everything. There is no other player in world football who can give to the dressing room what Ronaldo gives,” Roberto Martinez said at a press conference at the Cidade do Futebol in Oeiras.
Asked if the 39-year-old striker would be ready to come on as a substitute at the European Championships, similar to what happened in two games at the 2022 World Cup (both in the knockout stages with Switzerland and Morocco), the national coach replied: to “get away” from question, and chose to talk about the player’s time at Al Nasr in Saudi Arabia.
“Cristiano has shown a very consistent performance at the club. There is no doubt that he is an incredible goalscorer. He will make his sixth European Championship. A unique feat in world football. His experience is very important for us,” the Spaniard said. The coach ahead of the preparatory meeting with Croatia scheduled for Saturday at the National Stadium.
The national team trains this Friday from 18:30 at the Cidade do Futebol, with the first 15 minutes open to the media. Already in training are Cristiano Ronaldo and Ruben Neves, who will join the training camp this Friday.
The Portugal-Croatia match will take place at 17:45 and will be refereed by German Harm Osmers.
Before heading to Germany, the country that organizes the European Championship, the Portuguese team will also meet the Irish Republic on June 11 in Aveiro.
In the first preparatory game, the national team beat Finland 4:2 at the José Alvalade Stadium.
At Euro 2024, Portugal will play in Group F along with the Czech Republic (June 18, in Leipzig), Turkey (June 22, in Dortmund) and Georgia (June 26, in Gelsenkirchen).
Euro 2024 will take place from June 14 to July 14.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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