‘Tonight will change all thoughts about Ronaldo’published at 15:41 5 July
Portugal v France (20:00 BST)
Alex Bysouth
BBC Sport in Berlin
Image source, Getty ImagesFormer Portugal winger Nani says he has not been too impressed with his national side’s performance so far at Euro 2024 but hopes tonight’s quarter-final against France will spark their tournament into life.
“I am happy we are here, we always want to be with the main teams in the tournament – we want to entertain, we want to be the team who are favourites, but at this moment we didn’t feel that,” he said. “
“Maybe tonight we have the opportunity to change all this mentality. It will be a great match, difficult for both teams – they will lose a lot of energy, there is a lot of talent and power to put on the field, and both teams until today have not shown the best they can produce.”
Nani knows Cristiano Ronaldo well, having played with him at Manchester United as well as his country, and they were part of the same team that won Euro 2016. He says the 39-year-old will use tonight’s match to silence any talk about whether he warrants a place in the side.
“He is a special player, a player who can create a lot of emotions,” said Nani. “So it is normal when things are not going so well from his side – everyone is expecting him to score goals, that’s his job, he is a striker, so it can make him down a little bit.
“But I believe he is more confident for the next matches and tonight he can change all this energy.”
Nani also says Ronaldo won’t linger on his penalty miss against Slovenia in the last round.
“I believe he is strong enough with all his experience,” he added. “I would not say it didn’t take him a little bit down – yeah, for sure, he was thinking for two days – but for tonight he is already over it, that situation has passed so he is already excited for the match.
“We footballers are like that, he is just waiting for an opportunity to score or win the game and change the sensations, the feelings, the thoughts. When you lose a penalty, such an important penalty in that game, it will hurt you a little bit but it will not stay forever because we have another game to play. I believe tonight will change all the thoughts about Ronaldo.”