Portugal's bid to win Euro 2024 continues on Friday when they take on France in a titanic quarter-final encounter.
Roberto Martinez struggled to get past Slovakia in the last round, needing a penalty shootout to make it through to the final eight. Much of the spotlight fell on Cristiano Ronaldo's performance, and former England manager Sam Allardyce believes the Portuguese icon is holding the current team back.
Speaking on the latest episode of William Hill and Footy Accumulators’ podcast, No Tippy Tappy Football, Allardyce said he hadn't been impressed by Portugal, and it's down to the team having to carry their legendary captain.
“Given the talent that Portugal have in their squad, I think they’ve been quite disappointing," he said.
"They’ve got so much talent and so much ability on the ball, but they’re having to carry Ronaldo now. Even though he is still very fit for his age, he simply doesn’t have the same energy levels anymore. The other players have to carry him and they’re good enough to do it, but he still hasn’t scored yet.
“Roberto Martínez won’t be brave enough to drop Ronaldo. When I was at Bolton I had to sit down Youri Djorkaeff – who was a World Cup winner – and tell him I thought his legs had gone. He didn’t take it very well and it’s not easy for the manager either. It’s a tough one for the manager in that position.
“I think Ronaldo’s tears were primarily down to what he wanted to achieve personally, rather than with Portugal as a team.
"At his level you have to be selfish, but where he didn’t do himself any favours was the last World Cup because he was throwing his hands around and dismissing everyone when they got knocked out. He’s passionate and wants to win. He never really played a part when they won the Euros in 2016 so he’ll want to win this for himself as much as the country.”
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