European Championship Round of 16 First sad, then overjoyed: Ronaldo’s evening of extremes
Ronaldo had to be consoled after his missed penalty. Photo
© Arne Dedert/dpa
Cristiano Ronaldo has already experienced a lot in world football – but this evening in Frankfurt is also special for him. After tears and cheers, Portugal’s superstar speaks on the microphone about his feelings.
These pictures of Cristiano Ronaldo are going around the world again. Confident before the penalty, dejected after the penalty, crying on the pitch, celebrating after the penalty shootout. Even for the 39-year-old superstar, this European Championship night in Frankfurt, in which he even apologized to his own fans with a humble gesture, was something very special.
“Of course I was incredibly sad and then overjoyed. That’s football. You can’t explain what happens. It’s all or nothing, it happens again and again. Then fate and luck change,” said Ronaldo immediately after the 3-0 penalty shootout against Slovenia. The captain had missed from the penalty spot in extra time and then scored Portugal’s first penalty in the shootout.
Ronaldo congratulates the match winner
“Everyone can make mistakes. The most important thing is what we do after the mistake. We have to believe in ourselves and that’s what we did. Now we’re happy,” said goalkeeper Diogo Costa, who made European Championship history by saving three penalties and became the big match winner. Costa did not see himself as a hero. In the press conference room, he even forgot the trophy he had received as player of the match.
On Friday (9 p.m.) the quarter-finals in Hamburg will see a giant duel against runners-up France with Kylian Mbappé. “We’re through, we had to work hard, we did quite well and therefore deserved to win. Congratulations also to Diogo Costa, who saved three penalties,” said Ronaldo.
dpa
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