Ahead of the quarter-final clash between Portugal and France, blue Sport expert Marcel Reif defends the much-criticized Cristiano Ronaldo. If there's one player he's disappointed with, it's Kylian Mbappé.
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- Portugal face France in the European Championship quarter-finals on Friday.
- Ahead of the match, Marcel Reif praises superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who has come in for criticism.
- The blue Sport expert was less pleased with the performances of France star Kylian Mbappé.
- Even though the two teams have been guilty of a lot so far, Reif says: "I think it's worth watching the game." He believes that both teams will now shift up a few gears.
Cristiano Ronaldo is still waiting for a goal at this year's European Championship. In the round of 16 against Slovenia, he missed several promising free kicks and then also missed a penalty in extra time. The superstar was even in tears afterwards. Many experts are harsh on Ronaldo and he is also lambasted on the net.
blue Sport expert Marcel Reif can't understand the criticism. Ronaldo plays in a much more team-oriented way than he used to. He cites Ronaldo's assist against Turkey as an example, when he unselfishly passed the ball to Bruno Fernandes, who was in an even better position. "He wouldn't have played that in 100 years," says Reif, who admits that he is surprised by the superstar's performance. "I was very skeptical before the tournament. I said the Portuguese would choke on Ronaldo."
Ronaldo is no longer the fastest, but he no longer has to be in his current position. Nevertheless, he has exceptional qualities. "He still goes higher for headers than others. He still has a shooting technique that others have never had and never will have. And he feels part of the team. You can see that too."
"He's no longer the cocky peacock" who wants to win games single-handedly. Reif also thinks the accusation that Ronaldo shed crocodile tears after missing the penalty is wrong. "I think he was a very vulnerable boy at the end of a long journey, also tired from a lot of things, and he disappointed the whole country, the team and himself with the missed penalty. Because that could have been the end."
Reif takes his hat off to the fact that Ronaldo went first in the penalty shoot-out afterwards. "There are still a few idiots who say: 'Yes, you can see what a poser he is. But you have to do that first." He used to be annoyed by Ronaldo's pompous posturing, but there's not much of that anymore.
Kylian Mbappé doesn't come off well
Reif is much more critical of Kylian Mbappé's performances so far. "The influence he has had on the French game so far has been manageable." Of course, Mbappé has said that the mask he has had to wear since breaking his nose bothers him. "But is that enough to explain why he's not involved in the game for long stretches?" The fact that the French are still basing their entire game on him is strange.
And yet Reif is by no means writing off the French: "What if they play the way they can? Then they might become European champions." And so Reif also predicts a 2:1 victory for the French in the quarter-finals. Why? "Because I still suffer from the France reflex. If they come, they'll win. But in the back of my mind I have: Nope. A Ronaldo on a night like this, he scores because he can and the others join in..."
Even if the two teams haven't spoiled spectators with footballing delicacies so far, Reif is looking forward to the match: "I think it's worth watching the game. I would advise everyone to do that. Because I think the key will be turned and we'll shift into gear two, three or four."
