"My God, he can frustrate you" - Roy Keane bizarrely calls Portugal star a 'fizzy drink' after their Euro 2024 loss to Georgia
Manchester United icon Roy Keane has criticized Barcelona star Joao Felix following his performance for Portugal in their Euro 2024 defeat against Georgia. The Selecao ended the group stage with a historic defeat at the hands of the minnows, but finished top of Group F, regardless.
Portugal have one of the most stacked rosters at the ongoing European Championship in Germany. Having won their first two games, the manager decided to rotate his squad. Roberto Martinez made nine changes to the side that defeated Turkiye in their second game, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Diogo Costa the only ones to keep their place.
One of those to come in was Barcelona forward Joao Felix, who made his first start of the competition in the game against Georgia. The forward failed to inspire his side with his performance despite playing the entirety of the game for his country.
Roy Keane and Gary Neville were on punditry duty for ITV Sport when they assessed Felix's performance. Keane was particularly critical of the 24-year-old, calling out his inconsistency as a major challenge in his career despite his obvious talent.
“Fizzy drink. He’s a fizzy drink. You know what, he is inconsistent. He has got talent, of course, but my God, he can frustrate you. Just inconsistent.”
Felix has struggled to find his best level for club and country, struggling to reach the levels he is known to be capable of. The former Benfica starlet is about to face another summer of uncertainty, with his future still to be settled.
Unwanted at Atletico Madrid, the forward has spent the last 18 months on loan at Chelsea and Barcelona without impressing much.
Reports claim that Barcelona will push for another loan deal for the forward before potentially signing him permanently next summer. It remains to be seen whether Atletico Madrid accept such an arrangement from their fellow La Liga outfit.
Portugal to face Slovenia despite historic Georgia defeat
Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portugal teammates will face Slovenia in the Round of 16 after finishing top of Group F at Euro 2024. The Selecao lost their final group game to minnows Georgia in what was a huge upset, finishing the group stage with six points.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia opened the scoring for Georgia after only two minutes before Georges Mikautadze scored his third of the tournament in the second half. Georgia won their first-ever competitive meeting with Portugal to seal passage into the Round of 16.
Having finished on top of the pile, Roberto Martinez's side will face Jan Oblak and his Slovenia teammates in the last 16. Slovenia finished third in Group C behind England and Denmark. With three draws to their name, Slovenia are yet to be defeated in the tournament.