EM 2024 - Bitter tears and pure despair: Ronaldo becomes an almost tragic hero against Slovenia - and is redeemed
It was a game where Cristiano Ronaldo had left his super in the locker room. The Portuguese wanted nothing to work for him in this Round of 16 match against Slovenia. The ball wouldn't go in from the left, from the right, or from the front.
In the 30th minute, it was a header into the arms of Keeper Jan Oblak. Three minutes later, he saved a free-kick from about 20 meters, four minutes later another one, in the 55th minute the third, and in the 70th minute the fourth. Ronaldo grabbed every ball, determined to score his goal, but none of them went in. The Portuguese team let him have it. No one scored. They were dangerous only once, and that one was probably held by Oblak because he was very central and the ball flew just over the crossbar. And that was from a Ronaldo who used to hammer in such free-kicks with his eyes closed.
Cristiano Ronaldo misses
The usually precise Ronaldo lacked precision. He could have fixed it all in the 89th minute, but he failed again and again against Oblak. Nevertheless, he naturally grabbed the ball for himself when Portugal was awarded a penalty. Then the unbelievable happened – he missed / Oblak saved. Ronaldo hadn't even looked at the keeper.
That was a blow for the successful Portuguese. At halftime, their teammates consoled and comforted the distraught Ronaldo, as if there was no worse misfortune. It was heart-wrenching. Ronaldo shed bitter tears, knowing that this missed chance could mean elimination for Portugal at this EURO and that he could become the tragic hero of the night.
In the end, the Portuguese were saved – or rather, the Portuguese saved themselves – through the penalty shootout, with goalkeeper Diogo Costa holding three of the Slovenian elders and Ronaldo's final shot. Because that one was still supposed to succeed. The relief of advancing was evident on the face of the old man.
Despite Ronaldo's relentless efforts in the Round of 16 match at the European Championship against Slovenia, Jan Oblak of Slovenia thwarted his every attempt, denying him in the 30th, 33rd, 55th, and 70th minutes from various angles. Even when Portugal was awarded a penalty late in the game, Ronaldo missed, potentially sealing Portugal's fate in the tournament.
