Cristiano Ronaldo Considered Retirement From International Football After 2022 World Cup
The post Cristiano Ronaldo Considered Retirement From International Football After 2022 World Cup appeared first on The12thMan.
Cristiano Ronaldo has admitted that he considered retirement from international football after enduring a rather disappointing FIFA World Cup 2022 campaign with Portugal.
Cristiano Ronaldo endured a rather underwhelming campaign at Qatar 2022. The Portuguese superstar started for his team in all of their group stages matches in Qatar. But Portugal’s then manager Fernando Santos dropped the team’s star man to the bench in the round of 16 and quarter-final matches.
Cristiano Ronaldo started Portugal’s round of 16 match against Switzerland on the bench. Portugal romped to a 6-1 win in that game, with Goncalo Ramos, who started in place of CR7, bagging a hat-trick. Ronaldo did come off the bench in the second half, but contributed little.
Fernando Santos once again left Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench when Portugal took on Morocco in the quarter-final. Once again, Ronaldo came off the bench in the second half but could not help his side avoid a 1-0 defeat to Morocco as Portugal crashed out of the tournament.
Speaking ahead of Portugal’s clash with Liechtenstein in UEFA EURO Qualifiers, Cristiano Ronaldo admitted he considered retirement from international football after FIFA World Cup 2022.
“I’m not going to lie. In our life, we have to put everything on the scale,” Cristiano Ronaldo said. “We thought, we reflected, me and my family, but then we came to the conclusion that, despite the difficulties, we cannot throw in the towel. I was able to see situations from different angles. I learned a lot from that.”
Fernando Santos left his job as Portugal’s national football team manager after their exit from FIFA World Cup 2022. Roberto Martinez has since been appointed as the manager of Portugal.
Roberto Martinez has included Cristiano Ronaldo in the Portugal squad for their two matches during the March international break. Ronaldo said that Martinez showed that he counted on him.
“I’m glad to be back. Roberto Martinez showed that he counted on me. I’ve always wanted to play. As you know, he talked to everyone and to me, too. And I was able to realise that I have a lot to give to the national team. I feel it, I want it, and my desire is to take Portugal to the highest level. I will always give my contribution when they need me,” Cristiano Ronaldo said.
The match between Portugal and Liechtenstein will kick off at 1:15 am Indian Standard Time on March 24.
The post Cristiano Ronaldo Considered Retirement From International Football After 2022 World Cup appeared first on The12thMan.
