The Euro's are over and Portugal are the kings of Europe for the First time. I've really enjoyed this summers tournament and it's been fantastic to watch and celebrate. That being said with the Tournament over we now prepare for the new season of domestic football and I'll be back blogging every step of the way.
Portugal started this tournament with not much hype surrounding them, we all no they are a good team but they never seemed to have quite enough to do the job. This year though there was a slight difference they had a team mixed with experience and youth, players like Gomes and Sanches excited and players like Pepe and Moutinho kept everyone calm. It's a good mix plus add a world class player like Cristiano Ronaldo and you always have chance.
But how did he become this leader ? Cristiano Ronaldo has always been seen as arrogant and selfish his drive to win mistaken for a inflated ego but the truth is Cristiano Ronaldo just wants to win at all costs. He didn't start the tournament well and Portugal drew to both Iceland and Austria with Cristiano Ronaldo missing a penalty, was this the beginning of the end for the legend ? No not at all because when Portugal needed him most he showed up and dragged them through to the next round with a great game against Hungry. After that his performances were of a high level and in the semi final he scored and set up a goal as Portugal won 2-0. On the road to the final Ronaldo was causing all sorts of controversy off the pitch his statement about Iceland doing nothing in the Tournament almost over-shadowed the fact his team drew a game they was expected to win and lets not forget when he threw a microphone in the river in the build up to the semi final some see these actions as childish and foolish however in my opinion I see them as brilliant Roanldo was playing a game and he played it well. He knows his team is full of young talented players and playing at a euro's brings huge pressure so what better way to deflect that pressure from the youngsters than make it the Roanldo show. Top managers do this all the time they make some huge statement to steal the attention and pressure from there players Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho mastered this so you can guess where he learnt it from. Plus lets not forget in the quarter final he calmed Moutinho and gave him the talking to he needed to face the penalty shoot out this was the first sign of his true leadership abilities.
The road to the final may of been full of Controversy but the final it self was when Ronaldo really stepped up and led his team to glory. It started with tears and fear as the man himself got injured and after desperately trying to carry on he had to depart after 25mins it was awful to see a player so determined lose to something he could not control. Though this was not the end for Ronaldo after receiving treatment he came back out at the start of extra time and patrolled the sidelines like a Wolf barking orders to the pact and giving them the belief they needed to continue the fight at times it was like watching Sir Alex Ferguson as he even did the famous watch tap as he encouraged his team past the line and to the final whistle and this is when the tears returned but this time they were tears of joy. Ronaldo may not of won the game they way people expected him to but he still played a big part in carrying his team over the line and on that day not only did Portugal win there first national trophy but also a leader was born.
Siiiiiiiiiiiiii
