The final fixture of the first set of group games at EURO 2016 ended with minnows Iceland producing a huge shock by drawing 1-1 with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in Saint-Étienne.
Ronaldo, like his team-mates, produced a disappointing display against an Icelandic side taking part in their first-ever Euro finals game.
The Real Madrid star did muster an incredible 10 shots in the game, but it was former Manchester United wideboy Nani who opened the scoring for the Portuguese just after the half-hour mark.
However, despite seeing their opponents dominate for long periods of the game, Iceland fought back, with Birkir Bjarnason volleying home the equaliser on 50 minutes.
Understandably, Ronaldo was once again left frustrated with his national side’s performance. Asked by journalists about the game, the all-time great rather let himself down with some very sour words…
It was a little bit frustrating, we tried hard to win the game, Iceland didn’t try anything. They scored a goal, they created two chances in the ninety minutes and otherwise they got every player behind the ball, they put the bus in the net so it’s difficult when one team don’t try but Portugal try and play football and try to win the game.
I thought they’d won the Euros the way they celebrated at the end, it was unbelievable.
When they don’t try to play and just defend, defend, defend this in my opinion shows a small mentality and are not going to do anything in the competition.
Petty stuff indeed. Although to be fair, Ronaldo must be getting really tired of underachieving with his national side.
As for Iceland, as well as making history, they can now look forward with confidence to their upcoming clash with Hungary. Not a bad start for a nation of just 330,000 people and one with no professional clubs!