Cristiano Ronaldo 'not trusted by Portugal players' as controversy mars win over Czech Republic
Cristiano Ronaldo drew a blank as Portugal beat Czech Republic in their Euro 2024 opener on Tuesday night
REUTERS
Stuart Pearce has claimed some Portugal players don't appear to 'trust' Cristiano Ronaldo after the 39-year-old had a mixed night in his side's 2-1 win over Czech Republic on Tuesday.
The Al-Nassr star is playing at his sixth European Championships, having first appeared at the competition all the way back in 2004.
Ronaldo started up top for Roberto Martinez's side on Tuesday, with a late goal from Francisco Conceicao giving Portugal all three points.
However, the forward was unable to score for his nation and sometimes cut a frustrated figure in attack.
Cristiano Ronaldo drew a blank as Portugal beat Czech Republic in their Euro 2024 opener on Tuesday night
REUTERS
At half time, Pearce suggested some Portugal players didn't appear to entirely trust Ronaldo.
The forward is one of the best footballers of all time after scoring goals galore for the likes of Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and Sporting Lisbon during his career.
Yet Pearce, speaking on talkSPORT, said: This might sound ridiculous, but [maybe] they don't trust Ronaldo enough to keep supplying him with the ball, that type of thing."
When asked to elaborate, he continued: "There's been times in the games where he's shown to feet and they've not popped the ball into his feet.
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"There was one with Bernardo Silva, it was one of these rogue passes [by Czech Republic] that got cut out.
"Bernardo Silva had it in the centre circle, Ronaldo peeled off in an inside-right position.
"I'm thinking, 'If this was ten years ago, you slide it in front of him and you know full well he's going to get there and score.'
"He [Silva] denied the pass, and I found that quite strange."
While Ronaldo failed to score, he did spark controversy by appearing to mock Czech Republic goalkeeper Jindrich Stanek following Portugal's late goal.
The 39-year-old appeared to fist bump in the face of the Slavia Prague goalkeeper.
But Ronaldo has since taken to social media to express his delight with the result.
Portugal won all of their games while qualifying for Euro 2024 and, with one win already secured, will be dreaming of going all the way.
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Cristiano Ronaldo isn't 'trusted by some Portugal players' amid his mixed performance against Czech Republic
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And manager Martinez was delighted at the fight his side showed as they started their campaign in Germany with the best result possible.
“We didn’t expect easy games," he said. "We played against a spirited Czechia, they were very hard and they were very clinical; had one shot on target and they scored.
“It was also a test of character. You look at the stats, 70 per cent of possession, 13 corners; you see a lot of good work.
“But when we were losing 1-0, we had to control the nerves and I think that the character that we showed today was incredible, something that will help us a lot.
Cristiano Ronaldo appeared to mock Czech Republic goalkeeper Jindrich Stanek during Portugal's Euro 2024 win on Tuesday night
BBC
“We won the game. We need to value what we did well as well; we defended very, very well.
“When you limit Czechia to no corners and just one shot on target, I think we can build a lot on the good things that we did today.”
Portugal are next in action against Turkey on Saturday (5pm).
Turkey beat Georgia 3-1 in their own Group F Euros opener on Tuesday with Mert Muldur, Arda Guler and Muhammed Kerem Akturkoglu all finding the net.