"He will be one of their weakest links" - Cristiano Ronaldo sent harsh verdict by Czech Republic legend Karel Poborsky ahead of Euro 2024 clash
Czech Republic legend Karel Poborsky wants Cristiano Ronaldo to start for Portugal in their Euro 2024 opener. The 2016 champions will take on the Czechs on Monday, June 18. Poborsky believes the Al-Nassr superstar playing upfront would benefit the Czech Republic as he has shortcomings in his game due to his age.
Poborsky stated, as quoted by Radio Prague International (via Czech News Agency), that age has caught up with Ronaldo and the 39-year-old is no longer the player he was.
He was quoted as saying:
‘I have been saying for a long time that in that case he will be one of their weakest links. ‘The fans of both teams will go crazy for him, but at his age he is not as good for building the game and pressing as his younger teammates. So our team would rather him start. ‘Hats off to him for what he has achieved – thanks to his enormous self-confidence. But you can’t stop age, he is 39."
The former Benfica winger believes that the Czech Republic will be helped on the pitch and that can result in them walking away with the points in the Euro 2024 Group F match,
Czech manager Ivan Hasek also wants Ronaldo to start for Portugal in the Euro 2024 clash. He wishes to defeat the Selecao but also wants to see his players challenge the Real Madrid legend.
"I believe we will be ready. The Portuguese are players who play in the best clubs in the world, they are stars and they go into it as the favourites, but we want to win. We want to stop Ronaldo. I want to say after the match that we didn't just play against Cristiano Ronaldo, we defeated him. The first match doesn't decide anything yet. I'm glad that the players are fine, and it will start tomorrow. We've been waiting long enough. It will be a football holiday and a very big one for us," he said in a press conference.
Cristiano Ronaldo ready to be benched for Portugal at Euro 2024
Cristiano Ronaldo admitted that he would be open to starting on the bench for Portugal at Euro 2024. The Al Nassr superstar claimed although he was doing well physically, he was ready to accept any decision made by head coach Roberto Martinez.
"The most important thing is that I am well physically and psychologically. I am prepared, I always prepare in the best way. I will be ready as always to help our country and respect the coach's decisions. The thought has to be that [winning the Euros], be positive, take it step by step. Dreaming is free and this team has the talent to dream. Nothing can be achieved without work, we have to work and fight," he told the media via Metro.
Fernando Santos benching Cristiano Ronaldo at the 2022 FIFA World Cup saw the former manager getting attacked by fans and even a Portuguese politician. He resigned after Morocco knocked out Portugal in the quarterfinals.