Luxembourg’s 0-6 loss proved that despite being warned as a favorite opponent, they could not prevent Cristiano Ronaldo from being accurate against the grand duchy again on Sunday.
Ronaldo shows why Luxembourg is his favorite opponent
Ronaldo’s hunger is far from satisfied, as he proved against Liechtenstein last Thursday. Three days later, the Portuguese great underlined that again. In and against Luxembourg, he opened the scoring after nine minutes in the European Championship qualifying match.
The goal turned out to be the starting signal for a lightning start from Portugal, which already led 0-4 halfway through the first half. And where Ronaldo accounted for the fourth Portuguese goal. With that, Ronaldo also confirmed Luxembourg’s status as his favorite opponent. In his eleventh meeting with the team from the Grand Duchy, he scored eleven goals, so far…
Martínez is right about ‘unique’ Ronaldo at Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo has silenced the critics with another productive evening. National coach Roberto Martínez was right.
Ronaldo may have left the European club stage, but there would have been no reason for Martínez to pass the Portuguese record holder before the start of European Championship qualification. “I don’t look at age, I look at performance,” said the new national coach.
The Spaniard was served at his beck and call by Ronaldo himself. Because after his leading role against Liechtenstein, the 38-year-old attacker made a name for himself again in and against Luxembourg. With his two hits, he is now on the unprecedented number of 122 international goals.
After the two international matches, Martínez was more than satisfied with Ronaldo, who has his worth on more fronts. “He is a unique player on the international stage,” said the manager after the big victory in Luxembourg. “His experience in the dressing room is very important. But everyone is important. The young people who want to play and show what they are worth and the older ones, like Ronaldo, Bernardo Silva and Rui Patrício who have the experience. That is crucial for a good dressing room.”
Bruno Fernandes did dismiss Ronaldo’s suggestion that there is a different mood in Portugal after the change of guard. “It’s just a new coach with new ideas. But no fresh wind is blowing. The atmosphere at the national team has always been good. Only now there is a new dynamic and a new national coach,” said the midfielder.
He responded on Instagram to the successful evening in Luxembourg: “Two games, two victories! Mission accomplished. Glad I was able to contribute to this very positive start for our national team. Vamos!”
