Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Georgia2 - 0Portugal

sportsmole.co.uk, 27 June 2024, 09:35
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has fallen to a new low on the continental stage after his nation suffered a surprise 2-0 defeat to Georgia in Group F of Euro 2024 on Wednesday.

A Selecao had already qualified for the last 16 as group winners and Roberto Martinez subsequently made eight changes to his starting lineup, but few would have envisaged tournament debutants Georgia pulling off an upset.

Portugal fell behind after just 93 seconds when Napoli winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia drilled a clinical finish into the bottom corner, before Georges Mikautadze sealed the historic victory for Georgia with a second-half penalty.

It proved to be another frustrating night for Ronaldo, who was unable to mark his 50th appearance at either a European Championship or World Cup with a goal.

The 39-year-old failed to make the desired impact in the final third - striking only one of his three shots on target - and was substituted just after the hour mark, while he was also unable to score in Portugal's first two group-stage games against Czech Republic and Turkey.

Ronaldo suffers first group-stage blank

As a result, Ronaldo has now failed to score in the group stage of a major international tournament for the first time in his career.

Ronaldo is competing at his 11th major international tournament this summer and scored at least one goal in each of his previous 10 appearances at the Euros and World Cup dating back to 2006.

The Al-Nassr striker, who scored 44 goals for the Saudi Arabian side last season, was booked in the first half against Georgia for venting his frustration at the referee after appealing for a penalty.

Portugal manager Martinez stated after the match that captain Ronaldo was right to be irritated by the decision.

"We weren't lucky and then the VAR wasn't consistent, because there's a situation with Cristiano," Martinez told reporters. "We're talking about what VAR can do. You can look back and give a penalty. The situation in the 27th minute is even clearer, more of a penalty than the one we suffered."

"It was the worst result. It was a game in which we started badly," Martinez added. "Conceding the goal really highlighted what the opponent wanted to do. We always had a good attitude, looking at the goal and trying to score the goal.

"Today Georgia had the key moments, the second goal, all the goalkeeper's energy and performance. We need to congratulate them. And now it's time to look to the round of 16 and have the team better prepared.

"We don't want to lose, but we have all the players. We continued to try to control the game, but when the opponent has an advantage to defend it's different. They have belief and strength. We started and it was another game, it wasn't a game that we needed to win."

Ronaldo will hope to have more joy in front of goal when Portugal face Slovenia at Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt in the last 16 next Monday evening.

Top News

26 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers youngster Bastien Meupiyou has finally made his first appearance for the Premier League club. 26 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly contemplating an approach for Hammarby winger Bazoumana Toure. 26 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City have reportedly established whether they consider Ipswich Town forward Liam Delap to be a future transfer target. 26 November 2024 talksport.com Tottenham will consider signing a new goalkeeper in January following the injury to Guglielmo Vicario, talkSPORT understands. 26 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has seemingly ended any chance of Arda Guler leaving the club during the January transfer window. 26 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to take one step closer to the last 16, Europa League leaders Lazio will welcome Ludogorets Razgrad to Stadio Olimpico on Thursday. 26 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Another Premier League gameweek, another weekend of Liverpool streaking clear while Manchester City falter, as Arne Slot's men established an eight-point lead at the top of the rankings with a thrilling 3-2 comeback win over Southampton. 26 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk With all eyes fixed on the January transfer market, clubs around the UK and Europe are already lining up potential mid-season moves. 26 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Slovan Bratislava vs. AC Milan (Tuesday, 5.45pm) Seeking a third straight Champions League win, Italian giants AC Milan will meet struggling Slovan Bratislava at Stadion Tehelne Pole on Tuesday evening. 25 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur defender Sergio Reguilon is allegedly hoping to agree to the mutual termination of his contract. 25 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Ruben Amorim will look to claim his first win as Manchester United head coach when his side welcome Bodo/Glimt to Old Traffordfor Thursday's Europa League contest. 25 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has been accused of 'thinking about himself' by fellow club legend Jamie Carragher. 25 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk On matchday five of the Champions League, Dinamo Zagreb will welcome inconsistent Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund to Stadion Maksimir on Wednesday. 25 November 2024 talksport.com Jamie Carragher has revealed he's been left 'very disappointed' by Mohamed Salah after he delivered a huge Liverpool contract update. 25 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have reportedly held "positive" contract talks with the agent of Mohamed Salah, despite comments suggesting otherwise. 25 November 2024 talksport.com Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has revealed he played over an hour with a broken ankle against Manchester City. 25 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Austrian champions Sturm Graz are set to welcome Spanish side Girona to Worthersee Stadion on Wednesday in their fifth Champions League fixture of the season. 25 November 2024 talksport.com Curtis Jones currently tops an important midfield metric thanks to an impressive season with Liverpool thus far. 25 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Millwall will look to extend their eight-game unbeaten run when they travel to Fratton Park for Wednesday's Championship clash with Portsmouth. 25 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk No doubt one of the most eagerly-awaited battles of the 2024-25 Champions League, six-time winners Liverpool and 15-time champions Real Madrid collide in Wednesday's mouthwatering Anfield showdown. 25 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona will be aiming to return to winning ways when they host Brest in the Champions League on Tuesday night. 25 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich will welcome Paris Saint-Germain to Allianz Arena in the Champions League on Tuesday night. 25 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk At risk of a scarcely believable sixth straight loss in all competitions, a wounded Manchester City take on Feyenoord in the Champions League league phase on Tuesday. 25 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Fresh from a first Premier League victory in weeks, Arsenal's next Champions League quest on Tuesday night sees them visit a Sporting Lisbon side who have won a staggering 14 home games on the spin. 25 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Eredivisie leaders PSV Eindhoven welcome Shakhtar Donetsk to the Philips Stadion on matchday five of the Champions League this wednesday. 25 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Strong starters Monaco welcome an in-form Benfica side to the Stade Louis II on matchday five of the Champions League on Wednesday night. 25 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have reportedly included defender Kieran Tierney in their travelling squad for Tuesday night's Champions League clash at Sporting Lisbon. 25 November 2024 talksport.com Luka Modric has named a star-studded six-a-side team of footballing legends but there's no room for Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. 25 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City's Champions League encounter with Feyenoord at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday is "a must-win for many reasons", Citizens expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany has told Sports Mole. 25 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City have received a double injury boost ahead of Tuesday night's Champions League clash with Feyenoord at the Etihad.