Roberto Martinez has defended his selection of Cristiano Ronaldo at Euro 2024, insisting he has "confidential information" that proves him right.
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Ronaldo played every gameDid not score a goalPortugal eliminated in quarter-finalsWHAT HAPPENED?
Portugal were eliminated in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024, losing on penalties to France. Ronaldo played every game at the tournament and failed to score a goal, with his main contribution being an assist in the 3-0 group stage win over Turkey. The Al-Nassr star also missed a penalty in the round of 16 against Slovenia, and was left in tears, before netting in the shootout that Portugal won 3-0.
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Now, though, Martinez has claimed that he has "confidential information" proving that he was right to continue playing Ronaldo throughout the tournament. He insists the 39-year-old's age is actually an advantage, pointing to the example of the exemplary Pepe, who played at the competition at the age of 41 before announcing his retirement.
WHAT MARTINEZ SAID
Martinez told Zero Zero via Record: "Age, in tournaments, is not important. I think age even helps. We saw that with Pepe, who played at a superlative level. The important thing is the work of the medical team. We monitored their performance through statistics, which demonstrate that Cristiano was well managed, well used. I have confidential information that proves this narrative. During the competition, we didn't have any physical problems. Pepe, contrary to what was said previously, managed to do very well in that regard."
Getty WHAT NEXT?
Portugal will next be in action in September, when they kick off their Nations League campaign. They will face Croatia and Scotland, with Ronaldo likely to play a starring role once again as he continues to dodge retirement talk.
