Portuguese press hails goal-hero Ronaldo
Portugal’s press gave a big salute to Cristiano Ronaldo and the entire national team on Thursday after their 2-0 win over Wales clinched a return to the European Championship final for the first time in 12 years.
Ronaldo’s impressive header early in the second half put Portugal on their way before the Real Madrid superstar saw his shot turned in by Nani soon after for the team’s second goal.
Fernando Santos’s side had not won a single game in the tournament over 90 minutes untilWednesday’s dominant performance in Lyon.
Ronaldo scored 51 goals in 48 games in all competitions for Real this season and delivered the decisive spot-kick in the penalties during the Champions League final win against Atletico Madrid. But he had been under scrutiny after a poor start to the tournament in France.
Wednesday’s goal, his third of the tournament, saw the 31-year-old equal Michel Platini’s record of nine in European Championship finals.
Ronaldo started in Portugal’s 1-0 defeat to Greece in the final of Euro 2004 and also when the team reached the semi-finals four years ago but were eliminated by Spain on penalties.
The Publico national daily newspaper has a photograph of Ronaldo celebrating with his team mates on its front page with the headline: “All that is left is the Cup.”
Portugal will meet hosts France or Germany in Sunday’s final in Paris.
