"Everyone being rested apart from him is kinda weird" - Fans react as Cristiano Ronaldo starts for Portugal in Euro 2024 clash against Georgia
Portugal fans on social media reacted to Cristiano Ronaldo being named in the starting line-up to face Georgia in their Euro 2024 final group stage game on Wednesday (June 26). Ronaldo and goalkeeper Diogo Costa are the only players who have been in the starting line-up for all three of the Selecao's group games.
Since Portugal have already secured their spot in the Euro 2024 Round of 16, fans expected the regulars to get some rest before the knockouts. While Martinez chose to rest most of his guaranteed starters, he included Cristiano Ronaldo in the lineup.
Fans took to X (formerly Twitter) to react to Martinez's decision. While most were surprised by Ronaldo's inclusion, others were hopeful that the Al Nassr star could score his first goal in Euro 2024 against Georgia.
Here are some of the reactions:
"All mid-players are starting this game," one wrote.
"It's funny but if Portugal loses 5-0 to Georgia, and Turkey wins against Cech, Portugal will come second and move to the right side of the bracket," another added.
"Ronaldo needs to rest," another shared.
"Let’s go Portugal. Ronaldo please score a goal @Cristiano," a fan added.
"Ruben Dias, Matheus Nunes, and Bernardo Silva are all on the bench for Portugal vs Georgia. But the stat pader is starting," a user commented.
"Cristiano to score a hattrick with these unselfish players," a fan predicted.
Martinez seems to have opted for a 4-3-3 formation against Georgia, giving an opportunity to most players who didn't feature in their previous two games. The attacking line-up includes Joao Felix, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Francisco Conceicao.
Martinez has started Joao Neves, Joao Palinha, and Pedro Neto in the Portuguese midfield. The Selecao defense features Goncalo Inacio, Antonio Silva, Danilo Pereira, and Diogo Dalot, who started in their first game against Czechia. Costa is the starting goalkeeper as expected.
Roberto Martinez explains why he started Cristiano Ronaldo in final Euro 2024 group stage fixture
Speaking to the media ahead of the match, Roberto Martinez stated that he included Cristiano Ronaldo in the line-up against Georgia as he wants the forward to remain active.
“Cristiano is a player who has played a lot of matches and needs to be active. It is very important, it is dangerous to stop,” he said (via Cristiano Xtra on X).
According to a previous report from Relevo, Martinez and Ronaldo had agreed on some ground rules about the forward's game-time ahead of Euro 2024.
The coach had an understanding with Ronaldo that he would always be the starting striker for Portugal in the Euro 2024, but he could be subbed off as per the match's requirements.