"The most important thing is not to always score or win" - Ex-Sporting CP chief discusses Cristiano Ronaldo penalty miss vs Slovenia
Luis Dias, the former technical co-ordinator of Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo's boyhood club Sporting CP, discussed the 39-year-old's missed penalty in extra time against Slovenia in the EURO 2024 Round of 16 win. A Selecao eventually won on penalties to reach the quarterfinals.
With the game goalless in the 104th minute, Ronaldo stepped up to the spot, but Jan Oblak brilliantly saved the penalty by diving to his left, leaving the 39-year-old teary-eyed during the extra time break.
Speaking at the IBERCUP, an international youth football tournament in Estoril, Portugal, Dias said that great players like the Al-Nassr forward are not focused on scoring or winning but on having a good 'reaction to failures' (via O Jogo):
"At the end of the game, Cristiano said something that I always try and have always tried to convey. The most important thing is not to always score or always win, the important thing is not to give up. The reaction to failure is what defines great players."
"It happened to Modric last week who, after missing a penalty, scored a goal, and it happened now with Cristiano, who took responsibility for scoring the first penalty (in the shootout) against the same goalkeeper (who saved his penalty)," concluded Dias.
Portugal would eventually win 3-0 on penalties, with Diogo Costa saving all three of Slovenia's attempts. Despite his miss in extra time, Ronaldo took his side's first spot-kick in the shootout and scored to give them the advantage.
"Emotions have no level" - Ex-Sporting chief Luis Dias explains why Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal will be stronger after penalty shootout win vs Slovenia
Luis Dias also said that Portugal will be emotionally and mentally stronger after their penalty shootout victory against Slovenia at EURO 2024.
In conversation with Portuguese daily O Jogo at the IBERCUP youth tournament in Estoril, Dias spoke about the tensions running high in such a critical phase of the tournament:
"It's not easy because, as I usually say, emotions have no level. We're either sad or happy.
"Regardless of the level of the competition we are in, the emotional reactions are always the same. ... They are young, players who have experience of being in high competition and, when things don't go the way we want, when we try our best and the ball doesn't go in, sometimes emotions can take over."
Despite his missed penalty, Ronaldo took the first penalty for his side in the shootout and converted it. Dias reckons it raised the team's morale and has given them the stimulus to go deep in the tournament. He added:
"This (Ronaldo taking the first penalty) was essential after giving an emotional part from an added point of view and motivation to take this qualifier forward.
"I am convinced that after this whirlwind of emotions. Portugal will be even stronger from the point of view of the group and from the point of view of what is the common suffering for a flag."
Portugal next face France in a highly anticipated quarter-final matchup at Hamburg's Volksparkstadion on Friday (July 5).