Euro 2016 Warm-Up Friendly Between England And Portugal Will Not Have Cristiano Ronaldo
Euro 2016 is almost upon us. One of the biggest international soccer competitions in the world, the UEFA European Championship of 2016, is all set to flag off in France on June 10. But before the tournament starts, two of soccer’s biggest national presences — England and Portugal — are all set to lock horns in a warm-up friendly match today at Wembley Stadium in London. But here’s the catch — Portugal’s fabled captain Cristiano Ronaldo will give the Euro friendly a miss.
The Real Madrid forward has had a fruitful 2016 yet, having scored the cup-winning penalty against Atletico Madrid in last week’s UEFA Champions League final match. Portuguese manager Fernando Santos has understandably given Ronaldo some time off to unwind before the Euro 2016 descends upon him. Never one to live down a holiday, Ronaldo has headed to the Mediterranean island of Ibiza ahead of the Euro.
While Cristiano posed in his signature goal-scoring celebratory posture against blue waters for Instagram, the England camp of 2016 under coach Roy Hodgson are not too happy with the star forward’s absence. Part of England’s reason for choosing Portugal as an adversary for the Euro 2016 friendly was Ronaldo’s presence in the team and the practice their own winger (and Ronaldo’s Madrid teammate) Gareth Bale would have against him. Hodgson, for whom the Euro 2016 could be the last tournament as England’s coach, spoke to the Independent News Service ahead of the Euro warm-up.
“We were thinking Gareth Bale plays in a similar position, so when we picked Portugal, we were not only thinking about their technical qualities and the fact they are a very good football team, but also the fact they have a special individual,” said the 68-year-old ahead of the Euro 2016 warm-up clash. “I believe that he might not be coming now, but we are happy with the two opponents we have had so far.”
However, while the Portugal striker’s position in his home team is pretty much a certainty, the Euro 2016 will see the England manager go through a strange conundrum when it comes to choosing a forward. With 2016 proving an excellent year for England’s goal scorers, it remains to be seen which combination of the strikers, including Golden Boot winner Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspurs), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Jamie Vardy (Leicester City), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), or young turk Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) will make the front line of England’s attack against Portugal in the Euro friendly.
“I don’t think I have to look after the younger players, but if I can set the right example around the hotel or on the training pitch, then they will see that,” he said while prepping for the Euro 2016. “A lot of these players are going to their first tournament and won’t know what to expect. It is different. So if I can try and give them a bit of insight into that, I will do. To lead the team into a tournament [like the Euro] is a big moment for myself and one I don’t take lightly.”
With some of the best players of Europe vying for a championship that will not only boost their careers but also bring their national teams under the radar, the Euro 2016 looks to be the tournament to watch out for.
[Photo by Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images]
