On Friday, Portugal will face France in the second European Championship quarter-final. Basel legionnaire Renato Veiga takes a closer look at the Lusitanians for blue Sport.
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- On Friday at 9 p.m. in Hamburg, Portugal and France will duel for a place in the European Championship semi-finals.
- The match is also a rematch of the 2016 European Championship final, when the Portuguese won their first major title with a 1-0 win over the tournament hosts in Paris. Ronaldo was already captain at the time. The now 41-year-old defender Pepe was also in the European Championship team eight years ago.
- Portuguese Basel professional Renato Veiga analyzes the starting position for blue Sport.
In an interview with blue Sport, Basel international Renato Veiga, who moved from Sporting Lisbon to the Rheinknie last summer, is satisfied with the Seleção's performances so far.
"We've only lost one game (editor's note: 0:2 against Georgia), but by then we already had qualification in the bag," said the 20-year-old. Now a "real acid test" awaits with France, as Veiga puts it. However, he is optimistic: "We have everything we need to make it through to the knockout round again."
In the round of 16, the star ensemble led by Cristiano Ronaldo had to tremble for a long time against Slovenia. The superstar shot from all angles and even missed a penalty in extra time, after which CR7 wept uncontrollably. "The tears just show how much the European Championship means to him," said Veiga. In the end, however, Ronaldo was able to laugh again thanks to winning the penalty shoot-out.
"I don't think anyone suffers as much as he does. When someone wants it so badly, total dedication is the only way," summarized Veiga, adding: "It's all the more frustrating when you don't make it." What's more, this is Ronaldo's last European Championship, so a mistake like this is extremely painful.
Should Ramos replace Ronaldo in the center of attack?
The midfielder raves about the record goalscorer (130 goals in 211 international matches): "Portugal would not be as successful in football without Ronaldo. And the Portuguese people are very grateful to him for that."
However, Ronaldo is now 39 years old and plays in Saudi Arabia. Nevertheless, he still has a big role in the national team. No problem for Veiga. "He's scored more than 50 goals this year - that speaks for itself." His conclusion is clear: "Of course he deserves it, you can see that he gives everything for the team."
Of course, other players have fallen by the wayside for the veteran. Above all, rival striker Gonçalo Ramos, who is left with the role of substitute. Veiga does not want to commit himself to whom he would prefer. They are both different types of players and at a different point in their careers. "In the end, the coach decides," says Veiga Solomonically.
