While putting your feet up in a tinpot league before taking on a major international tournament might’ve worked out for his great rival Lionel Messi at PSG, Cristiano Ronaldo isn’t enjoying the same benefits at this year’s Euros.
The Madrid legend was reduced to tears against Slovenia having missed an extra-time penalty, smashed countless free-kicks into Row S and been held scoreless for the fourth game in a row in Germany.
But he did dry his eyes, front up and smash home the first penalty for Portugal as they progressed in the shoot-out to face much-fancied France in the quarter-finals, meaning the 39-year-old goleador could still find himself dodging pitch-invaders and jersey-seekers in Berlin on July 10th as he picks up a second European Championship winners medal.
To do so, he’ll need to recompose himself, tell manager Roberto Martinez he’s playing, and hope his goalkeeper can bail him out again against Kylian Mbappe.
It’d help if he found the net himself too. He’s had 19 shots, five more than any other player at the tournament, and is yet to find the net.
Here are the odds Paddy’s offering on the the great man to turn around his fortunes and find the net in Portugal’s huge quarter-final showdown on Friday night at 8pm.
Ronaldo to have a headed shot on target
Ronaldo to have a headed shot on target & a shot on target from outside the box
We all know the insatiable goal-getter can leap like a salmon when the ball’s crossed in – or could anyway.
The way things are going for him in Germany, he’ll probably look more like a slippery fish flapping about on the floor as he tries to convince the ref give a penalty that the springing net-rippler we all remeber.
But if you fancy him to soar above Saliba and Upamecano to get an effort on target with his head, we’ve a price for that – and you can almost treble the odds on it if you fancy him to hit the target from outside the box with a shot as well.
One of those free-kicks will be on goal eventually, won’t it?
And he did manage both in the game with Slovenia. Just saying…
Ronaldo to Have First Shot On Target for Portugal & Mbappe to Have First Shot On Target for France
You could just pair him up to find the target once with his heir apparent at Real Madrid doing the same.
Ronaldo to hit the target first for Portugal and Mbappe to do it for France seems a savvy play given both sides are set-up for their star forwards – though admittedly the cool finishes of this Own Goal character have stolen the headlines for Les Bleus so far in the tournament.
Ronaldo to Assist
But perhaps we’ve got this game all wrong. We’ve already seen Ronaldo can put aside his ego, as he selflessly assisted Bruno Fernandes’ goal against Turkey to make it 3-0 in their group stage tie.
It means he has seven assists at European Championships in his career, spanning six tournaments.
Perhaps his penalty catastrophe will see him turn into a benevolent provider of goals sharing strikes with his teammates rather than piling up the numbers himself?
You can back at around 5/1, though we’ll believe it when we see it.
Ronaldo to score a hat-trick
Ronaldo First Goalscorer
Really though, there’s no better way to stick to the haters than by smacking in three goals against one of the world’s top sides?
Of course, there is the small matter of the French defence to deal with. They’ve conceded just once, to Poland from the penalty spot – and even that had to be re-taken after the immense Mike Maignon saved it.
We’re not convinced, but all CR7 fanboys can show their commitment – or that they should be committed? – with a wager on him delivering in epic fashion.
Our Pick Of the Punts
Ronaldo to Have First Shot On Target for Portugal & Mbappe to Have First Shot On Target for France
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