Female analyst completely exhausted in CNN Portugal broadcast over disappointing Cristiano Ronaldo

Portugal had to dig deep on Monday night to reach the quarter-finals of the European Championship at the expense of Slovakia on penalties. Cristiano Ronaldo looked set to be the big loser when he missed a penalty during extra time. However, goalkeeper Diogo Costa then played a heroic role by saving three Slovakian penalties during the penalty shootout.

The euphoria within the Portuguese team and in the country was understandably great after the victory, but analyst Sofia Oliveira expressed his CNN Portugal fierce criticism of national coach Roberto Martínez, who again placed Ronaldo in the starting line-up.

The 39-year-old star player started all four of Portugal's matches, but has not scored from open play. He only managed to score during the penalty shootout against Slovakia. His main rival Goncalo Ramos had to settle for a 25-minute substitution against Georgia (2-0 loss).

“I have a question about Cristiano Ronaldo,” Oliveira began on the broadcast of CNN Portugal. “This is going in an unusual direction, but is there anyone who doubts that Ronaldo is only given a starting place in the national team today because of everything he has achieved? And not because of the player he is today?” she asks her colleagues.

“Does anyone doubt that? Because I can’t understand it,” the analyst continues. “We all rave about Ronaldo, who has had a huge career, but as someone in football once said: ‘When you knock on the door, they don’t ask who you were, they ask who you are.’ At the moment, Cristiano Ronaldo is not a player to start in the Portuguese national team, period.”

Colleague Diogo Luís then chimes in: “I'm going to interrupt you now, because I don't completely agree,” after which Oliveira continues: “Why are we beating around the bush? Of course you agree with me. You agree with me, André, Dani (her other colleagues, ed.). Everyone agrees with me that Ronaldo should no longer be in the starting line-up.”

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