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EURO 2024: Cristiano Ronaldo Praised as 'Unbelievable' for Scoring 130th Portugal Goal ahead of Euro 2024.
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Portugal manager Roberto Martinez praised captain Cristiano Ronaldo's enduring brilliance after witnessing him propel the nation into Euro 2024 with two remarkable goals against the Republic of Ireland.
The 39-year-old, earning his 207th senior cap in Aveiro, netted in the 50th and 60th minutes following Joao Felix's first-half opener, sealing a convincing 3-0 friendly victory for the Euro 2016 champions as they head for Germany.
Reflecting on Ronaldo's performance, Martinez lauded, “His commitment as captain is unbelievable. Today we saw two world-class goals, but I really enjoyed his work. He had already scored two goals, but his first option was to assist a team-mate. That shows solidarity and companionship, important values in a dressing room heading into the Euros. But goals are crucial, and they were excellent.”
Interim Ireland manager John O'Shea faced a challenging evening as his team paid the price for defensive lapses against a vastly superior opponent.
Despite this, as his temporary tenure concluded, he expressed his interest in assuming the role permanently, confident in the foundation laid for future success.
O'Shea remarked, “Yes, it has whetted the appetite. Reflecting on what I'm looking to do going forward, facing teams like Portugal, Hungary on an unbeaten run, Belgium, and Switzerland, these games have provided invaluable learning experiences."
Regarding the squad, O'Shea highlighted, “There is a foundation. The competition within the squad is high, leading to better performances. Players need to return to their clubs and maintain momentum because the games come around quickly."