Cristiano Ronaldo is worst nightmare for Czech Republic's Euro 2024 dream

07/05/2024 16:05

When Czech Republic drew Portugal in their Euro 2024 group, they would have been forgiven for cursing their luck.

The sight of Cristiano Ronaldo running towards their defence is one that Czechs already have nightmares about.

That is because the last two times they have faced the Selecao at the European Championship, they have become fodder for one of the best players to ever grace the game.

Granted, those two matches came at Euro 2008 and Euro 2012, but it speaks volumes that even 12 years on from that latter tournament, Ronaldo is still going strong.

And the five-time Ballon d’Or winner will be licking his lips ahead of the June 18 Euro 2024 match between the two nations.

In 2008, they met in Geneva after both had won their opening matches of the group stage – and another would all but secure passage to the knockout rounds.

But Ronaldo had been on something of a barren run, failing to score in his last four fixtures for his nation.

Unfortunately for the Czechs, he was determined to end that drough and was soon leaving defenders dizzy.

The opening goal wasn’t his though, with Chelsea legend Petr Cech saving from his rival, who was in his best form for Manchester United at the time, winning the first of five Ballon d’Or awards that year after lifting the Champions League.

But the resulting rebound fell to his teammate Deco, who tucked the ball in to give Portugal an early lead before Czech Republic equalised from a corner.

After the break, Ronaldo was on the rampage again and this time he swept home a fine finish from just inside the box to give Portugal the lead again.

The flying forward helped make sure of the result when he beat the offside trap from a free-kick.

One-on-one with Cech, he unselfishly squared the ball to Ricardo Quaresma to tuck home and wrap up all three points and a 3-1 win.

After the match, his war-cry was ominous: “I do not know how to play differently. I only know risk.

"When things go badly I miss balls, but when things go well I score goals or create them."

Germany, though, had other ideas, knocking out Portugal in the quarter-finals.

Czech Republic went on to lose their third match to Turkey and crash out of the tournament before qualifying for the next tournament in 2012 – where they would face Ronaldo again.

This time, they would qualify for the knockout stage as they topped their group in a fine year for Michal Bilek’s men.

But their dream tournament would come to an end before they could say Staropramen when they lost 1-0 to Portugal, courtesy of a thumping header from… guess who.

Now in all-conquering form for Real Madrid, Ronaldo had greedily lapped up 60 goals in 55 games in all competitions.

Euro 2012 was no different and he finished level for the Golden Boot with three goals, only missing out on the trophy to Spanish super-sub Fernando Torres by one tie-breaking assist.

In trademark fashion, Ronaldo delivered a crisp header that flew past Cech late into the contest – ending the Czech’s Euro 2012 campaign in Warsaw.

Germany legend Jurgen Klinsmann was particularly impressed by Ronaldo, who had just led Real Madrid to LaLiga glory.

“Ronaldo is world class, he is exceptional,” he said. “He is in the top three with Lionel Messi and maybe Xavi and Andres Iniesta.

“Ronaldo has the class and leadership and is the difference maker.”

That was his 66th goal of the season for club and country and he nearly had another when a free-kick hit the post.

Now at Al Nassr, he has scored 47 times in 46 games across all competitions this season.

With two goals and two assists already against Czech Republic, there is no doubt the former Real Madrid and Juventus superstar will be looking to add more on June 18.