Portugal claimed a 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic on Monday evening in their first Euro 2024 group stage match courtesy of Francisco Conceicao’s injury-time winner
Cristiano Ronaldo has been branded “classless” after taunting two Czech Republic stars following Portugal’s 2-1 comeback win in their first Euro 2024 group stage match.
Lukas Provod gave the Czechs a shock lead shortly after the hour mark with a dipping effort from outside the area. Ivan Hasek’s side had been under the cosh for most of the match but a stodgy Portugal performance left much wanting.
An unfortunate own goal from Czechia’s Robin Hranac minutes after the opener let Portugal back into the game, before 21-year-old substitute Francisco Conceicao secured all three points for Roberto Martinez’s side with an injury-time winner.
And Ronaldo, 39, did not hold back in his celebrations, first pumping his fist towards goalkeeper Jindrich Stanek, who lay despondent on the turf having twice denied the Champions League winner in the first-half.
Ronaldo then appeared to shout something in the ear of midfielder Petr Sevcik. At full-time, the Al-Nassr forward embraced Conceicao in an emphatic hug.
However, the former Manchester United star’s antics left many viewers unimpressed, with one user branding him “classless” on X – formerly Twitter.
Another wrote: “Doesn’t need to do that. Not the best look.” Others felt compelled to draw comparisons with Ronaldo’s perennial foil in Messi, one user writing: “Something you wouldn’t see Messi do against his opposition. That’s why Messi is the [GOAT emoji].”
Another summarised: “He is the worst sportsman.”
Portugal are one of the favourites at this summer’s showpiece event, though their display on Monday evening left plenty of questions needing answered. Martinez is spoiled with riches in his squad but the plethora of talent struggled to find harmony in attack.
Portugal boasted 74 per cent possession and registered 19 shots Stanek’s goal but failed to produce chances of note, only looking their most dangerous when Martinez opted to turn to the youthful talent on his bench.
Ronaldo, who is competing at a record sixth European Championship, had a particularly difficult night, with some querying whether his inclusion in the starting XI sacrifices any cohesion in the final third. While the Portugal forward boasted a 100 per cent pass accuracy by the night’s end and created one big chance, he spurned a number of good chances and saw Diogo Jota’s goal ruled out due to his being offside in the build-up.
Even so, Portugal sit second in Group F and victory sets them up nicely for matches against Turkey and Georgia. And while Portugal’s credentials as Euro 2024 contenders might be doubted by some, victory in their group stage match is something they failed to do in their triumphant Euro 2016 campaign, having drawn 1-1 with Iceland.
Indeed, Portugal toiled against all three of their group stage opponents, coming third behind Hungary and Iceland but still managing to lift the Euro 2016 trophy.
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