Waving his arms in frustration and shouting frenziedly to all around him, Cristiano Ronaldo seethed as Hungarian rivals celebrated.
Ronaldo could not believe his teammates in the rearguard had conceded less than five minutes after he had finally scored his first goal at UEFA Euro 2016.
In the heat and humidity of Lyon, France, the pent-up frustration simmering inside Ronaldo after two goalless games was visible to one and all.
Photo: Reuters
Not for the first time on Wednesday.
The first target of the Portugal captain’s anger, during a walk in the park hours before the game, was the microphone snatched off a reporter and seemingly thrown into a lake.
His ire carried through into the frenzied 3-3 draw with Hungary.
However, whatever defensive deficiencies within the Portugal team, Ronaldo was going to drag Portugal into the round-of-16 and that is what he did with a towering 62nd-minute header to make it 3-3. The goal fest dried up and Portugal were through. Their reward: a tough game against Croatia.
“The team was in dire straits,” said Ronaldo, who also set up Nani’s goal, Portugal’s first equalizer. “Three times we were about to go home.”
There were personal milestones, too: An audacious flicked shot in the 50th minute ensured Ronaldo became the first player to score in four different European Championships, coming in a record 17th finals game. One more goal and he ties Michel Platini’s record of nine European Championship goals.
“I think no one can say anything against him,” Nani said. “He is a fantastic player every time in the difficult moments. This evening he showed again. Everyone was talking about him. So I think a lot of people now, he has shut them up.”
This was Ronaldo at his most devastating in front of goal, rather than the withdrawn figure who failed to score from 22 attempts, including one missed penalty, in draws against Iceland and Austria.
There is no time for Portugal, or Ronaldo, to celebrate. While Portugal ground out a draw against Hungary, Iceland and Austria were embroiled in a tight tussle to also advance from Group F.
Iceland’s stoppage-time winner against Austria in Paris pushed Portugal down to third in the group and Ronaldo’s side now takes on Croatia in Lens, France, tomorrow.
Sorting out the defense, which was repeatedly exposed by Hungary, is crucial.
“Before, we were not playing convincingly up front,” Portugal coach Fernando Santos said through a translator.
“Today was the opposite. We managed to attack; we managed to score ... but we are weaker defensively,” he added.
One matter that is unlikely to trouble Santos now is Ronaldo finding the net. With a potent combination of passion and rage on the field, Ronaldo is back in his stride.
“This, I am sure, increased his confidence levels,” Santos said. “He is a determined and confident player.”
Croatia beware.
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