“He misses a goal and cries like a baby” - Sunil Chhetri makes honest admission on ‘painful’ Cristiano Ronaldo penalty miss at Euro 2024
Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri has shared his thoughts on Cristiano Ronaldo's extra-time penalty miss in the Euro 2024 Round of 16 win over Slovenia on penalties earlier this week. A Selecao won the shootout 3-0 to go through.
Despite bossing proceedings, with Ronaldo squandering a couple of gilt-edged opportunities - including a powerful free-kick that sailed narrowly over - the two teams couldn't be separated at the end of 90 minutes, necessitating extra time.
Ronaldo had a golden opportunity to open the scoring for his side when he stepped up for a penalty just before half-time in extra time. He struck a powerful shot to the corner, but Jan Oblak dived to his left to produce a brilliant save.
Moments later, Ronaldo was reduced to tears and had to be consoled by his teammates, as there was still a game to be won. Having gone scoreless in four games, the 39-year-old redeemed himself by beating Oblak from the spot in the ensuing shootout, which the Selecao won without conceding, to reach the last-eight.
Talking about the aftermath of Ronaldo's emotions after his missed penalty, Chhetri said in an YouTube interview with Raj Shamani:
“He misses a goal and cries like a baby. It was so painful to watch him miss that penalty. I’m not a Portugal fan, I’m a Ronaldo fan (though). I was watching it with my mates and they were like, ‘why is he crying?’. And I was sitting there like, ‘you will not get it’.
“You will not get what he is going through right now. The whole country wants him to score, the whole world is looking at it. He wants to score so badly and he misses. It’s life you can’t be like, ‘give me another chance’.
Ronaldo and Co. take on France on Friday (July 5) night in Hamburg for a place in the Euro 2024 semi-finals.
What are the milestones awaiting Cristiano Ronaldo at Euro 2024?
Portugal talisman Cristiano Ronaldo might have still not opened his account at Euro 2024 despite having 20 shots on target, the most at the tournament by any player without scoring.
However, he has carved out a few records and milestones. The 39-year-old is the only player to appear in six editions of the Euros, score in three shootouts in the competition and is the oldest player to score in the shootout.
Cristiano Ronaldo - who is now the joint assist-provider - level with the Czech Republic legend Karol Poborsky (eight) - is looking to become the first player to score in six different editions of the Euros and also become the oldest scorer in tournament history.
Can he do so against two-time winners Les Bleus in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals as Ronaldo and Co. look to add to their Euro 2016 triumph?