Cristiano Ronaldo expresses his feelings before the start of the European Championships.
Cristiano Ronaldo, the legendary Portuguese footballer who is now 39 years old and plays in the Saudi Arabian league, is getting ready for the European Championship alongside his native country. During a practice match against Ireland, Ronaldo made some exciting announcements about the upcoming tournament. He is a record-holder with 25 appearances and 14 goals in the EM and has played a total of 207 times for Portugal, scoring his 129th and 130th international goals there.
In an informal tone, Ronaldo said, "With my feet on the ground and my thoughts in the sky": "The Portuguese are expecting a lot from us, there's no room for mistakes. The Portuguese people want us to bring home the victory because of the generation and the talent we have." This will be Ronaldo's sixth European Championship as he holds the records for most appearances and goals in this tournament.
Ronaldo doesn't shy away from the pressure that comes with representing his nation: "Playing for the Portuguese national team is the best thing that can happen." He has big hopes for the team, stressing, "We must think positively. This team needs to dream and work hard because just having talent isn't enough."
Although Ronaldo has faced criticism for choosing to play in the Saudi Arabian league, Portugal's national coach, Roberto Martinez, has no doubts about his premier player. Martinez included Ronaldo in the starting line-up for the EM test against Ireland, and the move paid off as their team secured a convincing 3:0 (1:0) victory.
Another player who is brimming with confidence is João Félix from FC Barcelona. The youngster scored the first goal just before the twentieth minute. He's optimistic ahead of the tournament, saying: "We've done a good job, and now it's about maintaining this method. We're at 100 percent self-confidence on our way to Germany."
Portugal's first match in the European Championship will be against the Czech Republic in Group F on June 18th. They also have Turkey and EM debutant Georgia as their other opponents.
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After expressing his determination for the European Championship, Cristiano Ronaldo was met with a chorus of "Ohs" from the fans, showcasing their support. Despite the controversial decision to join the Saudi Arabian league, Ronaldo's substantial contribution to the Portuguese team has not gone unnoticed by his fellow players or the national coach.
