It felt like a psychodrama from start to finish. The determination, frustration, desolation and exhilaration — it’s just as well that Cristiano Ronaldo has a few days to recover before Portugal’s quarter-final with France on Friday.
Portugal’s record appearance-maker certainly scaled the emotional ladder during their penalty shoot-out win over Slovenia after a goalless 120 minutes.
At times it felt like Ronaldo versus Slovenia. One man leading a nation. On what was his 211th cap for the national team, it seemed as though it was his own personal mission to save the day, defeat Matjaz Kek’s draw specialists and take Portugal another step closer to Berlin.
Throughout the 120 minutes and penalties, it was hard to escape Ronaldo. He addressed four free-kicks in such a theatrical fashion that it almost felt like the house lights should be dimmed, only for them to either fizz over the crossbar or go straight at Jan Oblak. There were another two misses in open play, too, that had Ronaldo screaming up to the heavens.
The 39-year-old would stretch to reach the balls lifted into the penalty area for him to attack but unlike in times gone by, the leap or the hyper-extension of the neck muscles were not quite enough.
And then came the moment: the extra-time penalty. Surely, now was the time Ronaldo would score his goal. Up he stepped, but across went Oblak to excellently parry his effort away. Then there were tears and his team-mates consoled him.
Redemption came in that Ronaldo shouldered the responsibility of Portugal’s first penalty in the shoot-out and, this time, converted before goalkeeper Diogo Costa saved all three from Slovenia. Even the heroic efforts of the ‘keeper could not prevent this evening from centring around one man.
Speaking afterwards, Ronaldo said: “Even the strongest people have their [bad] days. I was at rock bottom when the team needed me most. Sadness at the start is joy at the end. That’s what football is. Moments, inexplicable moments.
“I hadn’t missed a penalty all year. At this moment I missed it, but the most important thing is that the team won. I lost twice on penalties this season and won the third time. Sometimes football is fair and sometimes just, but we we deserved to qualify.
“I will always give my best for this shirt, whether I fail or not, but you have to take responsibility when the team has to. I have never been afraid to face things head on. Sometimes I do things right, sometimes I don’t, but giving up is something you will never hear from me.”
Portugal's best moments have come from shuffling the pack
Portugal have felt like a one-man team for some time, and that should be a little concerning for Roberto Martinez, the head coach, given the plethora of talent throughout the squad. It is hard to ignore the fact that when Ronaldo plays, everyone tries to find him, almost to a parodic effect.
As Portugal toiled, Martinez substituted just about everyone else but Ronaldo, despite him not having his best night. He has scored 130 goals and helped Portugal win Euro 2016 — the only major trophy in their history — but could it possibly be that he is holding them back a little now.
The desire and hunger that burns inside him is unquestionable; that he still wants to lead his country even a little over six months before turning 40 clearly demonstrates that. But does it now need to be channelled slightly differently? The intense passion can seem overwhelming and lead to things being a little forced.
Ronaldo clearly wants to score in what is his sixth, and final, appearance at a European Championship, however, 20 shots, one missed penalty and no goals scored suggests his powers are waining. Chances that were once catnip are no longer so straightforward.
Nevertheless, Martinez will not drop him — he didn’t even do so when he made wholesale changes for the 2-0 defeat to Georgia — and it seems that his job comes with the condition of always playing the individual who has undoubtedly been one of the world’s great goalscorers.
Yet, Portugal have benefitted when changes have come so far this tournament.
It was Diogo Jota who won the penalty that Ronaldo missed after coming off the bench and breaking the Slovenian defensive lines with a direct run. Portugal had not previously been so direct and fleet-footed in that particular area of the pitch, instead it was the full-backs and wide attackers who were doing a lot of the heavy lifting.
Another substitute, Francisco Conceicao, scored the late winner against Czechia in the opening group game, too. It would be interesting to see how Portugal performed without Ronaldo but the chances of him being taken away from the firing line are unlikely.
Fernando Santos dropped Ronaldo at the last World Cup and Portugal promptly beat Switzerland 6-1 with a hat-trick for Goncalo Ramos, who had been brought into the lineup in his place. But Ronaldo outlasted that particular head coach.
“He’s a constant example for us. Those emotions are incredible because he’s won everything and experienced everything,” Martinez said following Tuesday’s win.
“He doesn’t need to care that much and that’s why I thank him for being the way he is, for caring for the group, for being someone after missing a penalty that he was the first penalty taker [in the shoot-out]. I was certain he had to be the first penalty-taker and show us the way to the victory.”
It will be his responsibility again against France when the psychodrama continues.
