International career Ronaldo playing against Brazil in February 2007. Ronaldo earned his first cap for Portugal in a 1–0 victory against Kazakhstan on 20 August 2003. [199] Euro 2004 Ronaldo was called up for Euro 2004 , [200] scoring his first international goal in a 2–1 group stage loss to eventual champions Greece [201] and scoring again in a 2–1 semi-final win over the Netherlands. [202] He was featured in the UEFA Euro All-Star Team of this competition, providing two assists, [203] despite finishing with only two goals. [204] He also represented Portugal at the 2004 Summer Olympics, scoring a goal in the tournament, although the Portuguese Olympic football squad was eliminated in the first round, finishing bottom of their group with three points. [205][206] 2006 World Cup Ronaldo was the second-highest scorer in World Cup qualification in the European zone with seven goals, [204] and scored his first World Cup goal against Iran with a penalty kick.[207] During a quarter-final match against England on 1 July 2006, Ronaldos United teammate Wayne Rooney was sent off for stamping on Portugal defender Ricardo Carvalho . The English media speculated that Ronaldo had influenced referee Horacio Elizondos decision by aggressively complaining, after which he was seen in replays winking at the Portuguese bench following Rooneys dismissal. After the match, Ronaldo insisted that Rooney was a friend and that he was not pushing for Rooney to be sent off. [208] On 4 July, Elizondo clarified that the red card was due to Rooneys infraction and not the fracas between Rooney and Ronaldo that followed. [209] The angry reaction from the English press caused Ronaldo to consider leaving United, [210] and he allegedly told Spanish sports daily Marca that he wished to move to Real Madrid. [211] In response to the speculation, Ferguson sent Portuguese assistant manager Carlos Queiroz to speak to Ronaldo in attempt to change his mind, a sentiment that was shared by Rooney. [212][213] Ronaldo stayed, and signed his new five-year extension in April 2007. [214] Ronaldo was booed during Portugals semi-final defeat to France , [215] and missed out on the competitions Best Young Player award due to a negative e-mail campaign from England fans. [216] Though the online vote only affected the nomination process, FIFAs Technical Study Group awarded the honour to Germany s Lukas Podolski , citing Ronaldos behaviour as a factor in the decision. [217] Post-World Cup One day after his 22nd birthday, Ronaldo captained Portugal for the first time in a friendly against Brazil on 6 February 2007. [218] This move was in honour of Portuguese Football Federation president Carlos Silva, who had died two days earlier. Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari explained, Mr. Silva asked me to make [Ronaldo] captain as a gesture... [he] is too young to be captain, but Mr. Silva asked me, and now he is no longer with us. [219] Ronaldo was made full-time captain of Portugal in 2008. Euro 2008 Ronaldo scored eight goals in Portugals UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying campaign, [220] behind Polands Ebi Smolarek, but finished with only one goal in the tournament as Portugal were eliminated in the quarter-finals with a 2–3 loss against Germany .[221] When Portugals squad for the tournament was announced, Ronaldo was given the number 7 shirt previously worn by Luís Figo.[222] Ronaldo was named Man of the Match against the Czech Republic in Group A of the European championships. [223] When Carlos Queiroz was named Portugals new coach in July 2008, [224] he appointed Ronaldo as team captain. [225] 2010 World Cup On 15 June 2010, in Portugals opening World Cup match against Côte dIvoire , Ronaldo was tackled by right-back Guy Demel , which led to an argument and both being booked. The next day, Portugal contacted FIFA to suggest that Ronaldos yellow card be rescinded since he was pulled into the confrontation after having already moved away from the spot where he was tackled, but the appeal was rejected. [226] Ronaldo was named Man of the Match in all three of Portugals Group G matches at the World Cup.[227] [228][229] His only goal of the tournament came in Portugals 7–0 group stage thrashing of North Korea on 21 June, [230] which marked his first international goal in 16 months. [231] Portugal were ultimately eliminated by Spain in the Round of 16. Euro 2012 Ronaldo scored seven goals in Portugals UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, including two strikes against Bosnia in the play-offs for the tournament, and finished behind Germanys Miroslav Klose and the Netherlands Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (not including the play-offs round). Portugal were drawn in Group B with Netherlands, Denmark and Germany , which was widely referred to as the group of death of the tournament. [232] In an interview with Kicker Magazine , Ronaldo stated that I will only be fully content with my career when I have lifted a trophy with Portugal. [233][234][235] Ronaldo playing against Germany at Euro 2012. After the opening 0–1 defeat against Germany , Cristiano Ronaldo was criticised for under performing, showing frustration at his and his team-mates errors and for walking off into the changing-rooms straight after the match, rather than thanking the crowd with the team. Cristiano Ronaldos team- mate, Nani, later defended him, stating that he had left the pitch as he needed to instantly be treated for a possible injury. He also stated that Ronaldo had been training well and contributing greatly to the team, also adding that he was under excessive pressure, as football is a team sport. Nani finally stated that he believed that Cristiano Ronaldo would soon silence his critics. Luís Figo , however, criticised Cristiano Ronaldos behaviour, stating that it is the captains responsibility to always defend the group, despite the result. [236] During the match between Denmark and Portugal , the Denmark fans chanted Lionel Messis name whenever Ronaldo was on the ball. Ronaldo squandered two gilt-edged one-on-one chances, and Ronaldo looked frustrated and tormented throughout. [237] Asked about the Messi chants, Ronaldo responded irritatedly: You know where he was at this time last year? Do you know? He was being eliminated in the Copa America, in his own country. I think thats worse, no? And people say that he is the best player in the world. This sort of thing is normal for great players. [238] In the final group match between Portugal and the Netherlands, Ronaldo scored two goals to secure a 2–1 victory for Portugal, allowing them to advance to the quarterfinals. He also struck the post twice in the match and was named Man of the Match.[239][240] Cristiano Ronaldo was praised for his performance against the Czech Republic in the Quarterfinals. After he had twice hit the post, he finally darted in from behind his marker in the 79th minute and headed a cross from Joao Moutinho , sending Portugal into the semifinals with a 1–0 victory over the Czech Republic. After scoring the winning goal, he ran to the camera and was initially accused of chanting Messi mockingly, although upon further review, it was found that this was incorrect and that he had in fact simply stated para ti as he had dedicated the goal to his son. [241][242] Ronaldo had several chances for Portugal in the semi-final against Spain , but he sent three shots over the bar. [243] Ronaldo had his best chance in the 90th minute but shot the ball high and wide. [244] The match ended with penalties, but Ronaldo did not take a penalty in the shootout. He had been slated to take the fifth one, but it never got that far. [245] The Portugal coach, Paulo Bento, knocked back criticism of Cristiano Ronaldo not being employed earlier in the shootout. Well we had this plan and if it would have been 4–4 and he would have taken the last penalty we would talk in a different way, Bento said. [246] [247] Before and throughout the tournament, Ronaldo was particularly hailed by Diego Maradona who even declared Ronaldo as the best player on the planet and that [Ronaldo] has shown his countrymen that he does deserve a monument in Lisbon. [248][249] Ronaldo was included in the UEFA Euro 2012 Team of the Tournament, the second time after 2004, and finished the competition as the joint best scorer with three goals, along with five other players, although Spains Fernando Torres claimed the Golden Boot. 2014 World Cup cycle On 17 October 2012, Ronaldo won his 100th cap for the Portugal national team in a World Cup qualification match against Northern Ireland at Portos Estádio do Dragão. He became the third youngest European ever to reach that figure in the process, after Germanys Lukas Podolski and Estonias Kristen Viikmäe .[250] On 14 August 2013, Ronaldo scored his 40th goal for Portugal in a 1–1 friendly draw against the Netherlands. [251] On 6 September 2013, Ronaldo netted his first international hat-trick in a 15-minute spell in the second half at Windsor Park against Northern Ireland in a World Cup qualification match to become Portugals second-highest scorer ahead of Eusébio .[252][253] With his goals against North Ireland, Ronaldo also established a personal record, since it was the first time that he scored in three consecutive matches with Portugal.
Posted on: Sun, 03 Nov 2013 16:27:58 +0000
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