by Cristiano Ronaldo once said, “No one believed in us,” referring to Portugal’s victory in the 2016 European Championship. This victory, which could be his only major international trophy, is a testament to the country’s resilience and determination in the face of adversity.
Ronaldo, a 39-year-old footballer, is preparing for his team’s Euro 2024 Round of 16 match against Slovenia. The victory came after a campaign marked by catastrophes, farcical moments, near failure, and gloomy form. Ronaldo recalled that no one believed in the team’s chances after their 1-0 victory over France in the final.
Why would they have done so?
The Al-Nassr team, with Ronaldo averaging a goal per game, has faced criticism for not having a star-studded team. Despite this, the team’s recent defeat to underdog Georgia was not particularly concerning, as most starters were rested after the team secured its spot in the bracket with a game to spare.
In 2016, skeptics expected Portugal’s campaign to end due to frequent issues, such as Ronaldo’s dislike for a reporter’s questioning, which led to him throwing their microphone into a lake. This incident highlights the ongoing controversy surrounding the campaign.
In the 2016 group stage, a critic criticized Iceland’s defensive approach against Portugal, predicting their defeat. Despite being the smallest country to ever qualify for a major event, Iceland emerged victorious against England in the quarterfinals.
Ronaldo expressed disappointment with missed penalties against Austria and Portugal’s three-game deficit against Hungary in the third group game. However, his mood improved when he scored two equalizing goals. The tournament marked the first time the field was expanded to 24, allowing third-place teams to advance, and Portugal capitalized on this change.
Portugal’s journey to the Euro 2016 title under Fernando Santos was a thrilling one, showcasing Ronaldo’s impressive career. However, Portugal was not the best team, winning only one of its seven games in regulation, a remarkable feat as they defeated Wales 2-0 in the semifinal.
Portugal’s third-place finish in the group allowed them a more favorable position in the bracket, with Spain, England, Germany, France, and Italy all in the opposite half. Croatia needed a 117th-minute extra-time winner, followed by a comeback and penalty shootout, to survive Poland in the quarters.
Ronaldo collided with Dimitri Payet, sprained his ACL, and remained on the sidelines until the final whistle. Portugal substitute Eder scored the winner in extra-time, and the missed steps did not matter as the celebrations began.
Ronaldo expressed his happiness after winning a championship with Portugal, a goal he had been hoping for since 2004. He said it was one of the happiest moments of his career, and he always wanted to win a championship with the Portugal team. Portugal now appears buoyant, despite concerns from fans about their performance against Georgia.
Roberto Martinez believes Ronaldo’s setback will motivate his team and prevent complacency. He believes a recent friendly defeat to Slovenia will help prepare the team mentally for the knockout stage, as it has already happened before. Martinez believes adversity can spark a dramatic run through the bracket.
