Fans have questioned Cristiano Ronaldo for appearing to allow France to take first in their Euro 2024 penalty shoot-out as Portugal were sent crashing out of the tournament.
Penalties were required to separate France and Portugal following a goalless draw in their last eight tie - a repeat of the Euro 2016 final.
Ronaldo appeared to have won the toss with fellow captain Kylian Mbappe, with the 39-year-old reportedly allowing France to take first in the shoot-out.
France would ultimately emerged as 5-3 winners on penalties, with Joao Felix seeing his effort come back off the post.
Fans questioned why Ronaldo had allowed France to take first, suggesting his decision had given Portugal's rivals a major advantage.
'Why did Ronaldo let France go first? The first normally wins lol,' one fan posted on social media.
'If Ronaldo let France go first after winning the toss he handed them a 20% swing in probability of winning,' another claimed.
A third wrote 'Ronaldo let them go first even though first shooters win 71% of the time???????'
Previous research has indicated that teams that go first in international shootouts have a 20 per cent greater chance of winning.
The research was produced by a scientist who analysed 1,000 professional penalty kicks.
The swing it claimed to be due to shooting second placing players under greater pressure, making them more likely to miss their spot kick.
The gap, however, has reportedly reduced over recent years according to Geir Jordet, professor at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences.
Jordet, the author of the recently-published book, 'Pressure: Lessons from the Psychology of the Penalty Shoot-out' claimed ahead of Euro 2024 the balance between shooting first and second was almost even.
The study, covering men's competitions over an 11 year period, found teams shooting first during shootouts on 48.83 per cent of the time.
Onesmuschialo
666
GOODBYE PORTUGAL and CR7🫂🫂🫂. there's no time for CRITICS. call the next victim and let's move on...
Onesmuschialo
585
I told you that WITHOUT RONALDO there will be no FOOTBALL NEWS... 😂😂😂😂
vodbmntz
527
CR7 (read cry 7) was a shadow of himself in that match. his supporters of course will not understand. he Was clearly the weak link in that Portuguese team. he never passed a ball front and was weak in his judgements. he has been retired by France, simple! the best thing is for him to address the press and call time! thatch's the hallmark of the wise! he has done all that is best for himself but there comes always the moment of truth. time is up. the ovation is dying down and the wise man will not allow that ovation to plummet further!
Football_Messi
506
I don't think so.. we always talk shit if the result goes to the opposite side favor.. this decision was bad that decision not good.. Costa was in super form if he could save the first one Portugal could have gotten advantage.. n choosing the side can be a huge advantage aswell
Shmonny
371
The real goat plays for Argentina 🇦🇷
CR7goat411
363
bullshit haters will always blame ronaldo remember football is a team game when your team plays shit 1 man can't carry you through all competitions. fuking barca player costed us the semis fck you barca stop playing football and retire the club
Real_Netaldo9
340
Kanté went for toss as a captain, not MBappe. Correct the fact.
twikista
328
Truth be told, Ronaldo was a liability to the Portuguese team. He had no business remaining on that pitch for the entire game. He should just honorably retire from international football. Being on the pitch or in the national team is not his birth right. He was the weakest link in the Portuguese team.
AnietieF
310
Messi shot first, and he missed, but he managed to make it to the semis
You dunce, that's because his teammates didn't miss. Every other time, it's teammates that have covered Messi's ass. Di maria won him 70% of the penalties that gave Arg a head start in every match in the world cup also. Don't just type without making use of your brain pls..
ManUtdAmadDialo
295
I don't care whether he gave an advantage or not, all am saying is; yesternight poor dude kept waving in frustration. Asking his team mates to play him the ball in the penalty area⚽ To be honest the situation for him was very embarrassing coz none of his team mates seemed to listen to him. No one was willing to feed him the ball⚽ It was like they were telling him; If you want the ball drop deep and get involved😁 It looks like Roberto Martinez is sending a message to Ronaldo in a smartest way possible.!🤔 Roberto Martinez has implemented a beautiful style of play which commands players to play from the back where every player gets involved in the proceedings. And that style of playing is something which poor Ronaldo can't fit coz his game is all about goals⚽ Apart from goals, he has nothing to offer. That's why last night he looked isolated to the point of starting looking like a ghost, coz none of his team mates seemed to see him at all🧐
ciuabimsyz
279
of what benefit has Messi been to Argentina in Copa America? Argentina never struggled not even abit when this dwarf was benched and now they had to be separated via penalties..... isn't that stupid of you? Since you claim he won everything, what the heck is he still doing in Argentine team? why can't he retire?
Check the performance stats to know the difference between Messi in Argentina and Cristiano in Portugal. Messi has the highest performance rating in the whole Copa America group stage. Also Messi is not a weak link, he dictates the team's play, while Cristiano is the weakest link in the team. His presence drags the team back. He can't press, nor play in midfield. He only stays in the top waiting for Bernardo and Bruno to supply him with a pass and he can't guarantee a goal per chance as he misses sitters.
Man001
285
That's some silly reason right there. France went first versus Argentina in that WC final, did they win? Penalties are just 50:50, anyone can win.
wallacehuncho254
249
it doesn't matter, the good news is that Portugal have packed their belongings, and they will be going back home ...and as I said b4 the tournament, Ronaldo will end this tournament goalless ..
pedclnopst
205
I think writer of this article was sleeping when the toss took place, please All football always verify posting your story am gradually losing confidence in you. Nevertheless, even the statistics about the penalties am not sure if it's true.
waycelnop
200
My mum usually tells me that it's better you suffer first in life because your ending will be great. Though this comment has no relevance to Ronaldos life, I see his career ending in tears and I feel his pain😥..We know Ronaldo wants to win everything but if he's broken a record in this EURO, its failing to score the entire presence after 90min until his exit😥🤦♂️
FreeGuy
187
They lost the match because it's not their day, Not everything you blame Ronaldo, after all Venezuela place first in their penalty shootout and they still lost the game, Portugal against Slovenia, Slovenia played first and Portugal won that shootout so don't bring something out of nothing
Mujeebgaming
139
it was already decided they plan before penalty coin flip you idiots are blaming Ronaldo