Cristiano Ronaldo was absent from Portugal’s record-breaking 9-0 triumph over Luxembourg at the Estadio Algarve, as Roberto Martinez’s side qualified for Euro 2024 next year
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez has defended suspended Cristiano Ronaldo after his team qualified for Euro 2024 without him.
Seleccao das Quinas defeated Luxembourg 9-0 on Monday, with Bruno Fernandes scoring one goal and providing three assists. Diogo Jota, Goncalo Ramos, and Goncalo Inacio all scored twice, while Joao Felix and Ricardo Horta also scored at the Estadio Algarve.
It was all too much for Luxembourg manager Luc Holtz, who left the bench and went down the tunnel after Fernandes made it 8-0 in the 83rd minute.
Portugal played well without Ronaldo, who was suspended after receiving a yellow card in their win over Slovakia on Friday. It was the 38-year-old’s third booking in the current qualification campaign, resulting in a one-match ban.
In his absence, Ramos began up front and shone, while Jota came in and offered another dimension to Portugal’s front line. After his team’s victory, Martinez lavished praise on the two and confessed they are “ready to win” now that Ronaldo is out.
“Gonçalo Ramos showed today what he can do, and Diogo Jota did the same,” Martinez said. “We need players who have the level to win games. The group is special. We don’t need to compare them. Cristiano is important, but our team is ready to win without him.”
“No. Cristiano is a very important element for this team, Ronaldo has experience and a way of his own.
“We don’t need to cause controversy. Ronaldo as well as Pepe. They have an infectious way of working and give our team important value,” Martinez added when asked if Portugal performs better without Ronaldo.
Meanwhile, many Portuguese fans resorted to social media to argue that their team would be better off without Ronaldo.
One said: “Why do Portugal even call Ronaldo when the have Youngsters like Joao Felix and Goncalo Ramos?? They play better Without Ronaldo Nice goal from my starboy (Felix) tho.”
Another added: “Portugal needs to retire Ronaldo, he is too old to compete with these young players, especially since his role requires physical attributes, I don’t care how hard he works out, its over once you are like 39.” A third said: “G ramos is better, its funny how Portugal win 9 – 0 without ronaldo and struggle with him.”
Portugal midfielder Danilo Pereira, on the other hand, has endorsed Ronaldo and feels the outcome would have been the same if Ronaldo had been present.
“If Cristiano Ronaldo were here, the result would be the same,” the former Paris Saint-Germain ace said. “He would have helped with goals and assists. It wasn’t for his absence that this game was won by 8 or 9 goals.”
