Portuguese Pundit: Ronaldo Should Remain a Starter; Only João Neves Excelled

According to SIC Notícias, some Portuguese commentators believe that Ronaldo should continue to start for the national team.

Following Portugal's 1-1 draw with the Democratic Republic of Congo, both the team's performance and Ronaldo's came under heavy criticism. However, commentator João Rosado argued, "Portugal cannot blame everything on Ronaldo."

The Portuguese national team drew 1-1 with the Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday in a match that failed to excite supporters. After the game, international media heavily criticized Portugal's display and their number 7, Ronaldo. The Independent even published an article titled "Ten Men and a Statue: Portugal Sacrifices the FIFA World Cup Again for Ronaldo's Ego."

Rosado said, "This headline is interesting," but it misses what actually happened on the pitch. "I think the headline has it backwards. I remember there were almost 10 statues, but only one person, João Neves, performed exceptionally well," said the SIC commentator.

"The Portuguese team is performing poorly, and Ronaldo is well below his usual standard, so the 41-year-old forward cannot be held solely responsible."

When asked about Roberto Martínez's possible lineup for the next match against Uzbekistan, Rosado opposed benching the captain.

The commentator believes that "Ronaldo should continue to play," and suggested that "one change could involve the right wing, where Francisco Conceição might feature."

Rosado also noted that "besides Ronaldo, there are many others with hidden egos," questioning the performance of other attacking players in the squad.