Title-holder, Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal already leaves Euro 2020 in the round of 16 after losing to Belgium on Sunday night (1-0).
But the star striker of the Seleção says he is "proud" of the course of his selection in this European championship.
It was a shock worthy of a final, from the eighth of Euro 2020. Belgium finally won over Portugal on Sunday night in Seville (1-0) and qualifies for the quarterfinals of the competition.
Early end of the course therefore for the Seleção of Cristiano Ronaldo, defending champion, who must abandon his crown after his first knockout match in the tournament.
A disappointing result, but the star striker of the Portuguese selection wanted to highlight Monday the great adventure of his team in the tournament.
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"To give a lot of joy to the Portuguese"
"We did not get the result we wanted and we are leaving the competition earlier than expected," responded the five-time Golden Ball.
"But we are proud of our course, we have done everything to keep the title of European champions and this group has proven that it can still give a lot of joy to the Portuguese," he continued.
"Congratulations to Belgium and good luck to all the teams that remain in contention. As far as we are concerned, we will come back stronger," concluded the star striker of Seleçao and Juventus Turin, who equaled at 36 years old. the record of goals in selection (109) of the Iranian Ali Daei during this Euro.
Portugal's star striker may have played his last game in a European Championship.
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An "unfair" result for Fernando Santos
Portuguese coach Fernando Santos regrets this new elimination in the round of 16, after such a disappointment at the 2018 World Cup. "It's an unfair result, but it's football. Everyone is sad, I'm sad, people in Portugal are sad. Some players were crying in the locker room, it happens in this kind of situation. I feel frustrated, but we must all be proud of these players, because they gave everything. They did everything for win. The players are very frustrated, but the Portuguese can be proud of what they have done today, "reacted the tactician in a post-match press conference.
Fernando Santos also had a special word for his striker Cristiano Ronaldo, still the competition's top scorer with five goals. "He worked a lot, he did not score (during Belgium-Portugal, editor's note), but he did everything else. He was a real captain. He gave everything, he tried to change the course of the match, to go up, but that did not make it. I do not believe that there is a problem with Ronaldo ", insisted on specifying the coach.