Four players who could replace Cristiano Ronaldo in Portugal line-up at Euro 2024
07/02/2024 06:30 AM
It’s safe to say Cristiano Ronaldo isn’t having the best of times at Euro 2024, despite Portugal reaching the quarter-finals.
One of the tournament favourites were on the verge of a shock elimination at the last 16 stage on Monday night as they were taken to a penalty shootout by minnows Slovenia.
During the 120 minutes, Ronaldo tried again and again to find the back of the net but failed, before he was handed a golden opportunity to score from the spot in extra-time after Diogo Jota was brought down in the box.
But Jan Oblak brilliantly saved the 39-year-old’s penalty, leaving the legendary forward in tears on the pitch.
He soon went from zero to hero however, scoring in the shootout alongside Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva, with Diogo Costa saving all three of Slovenia’s penalties to send Portugal through.
But in the quarter-finals they’ll face their toughest opponent yet in France and Roberto Martinez has much to ponder, with Ronaldo still goalless at Euro 2024 and looking woefully out of form.
The manager has continued to back his captain, but should a change be made, who could replace Ronaldo in Portugal’s starting XI?
Diogo Jota
The obvious choice, Jota has been Martinez’s go to impact sub at the Euros, coming off the bench in three of their four games.
He found the back of the net against Czechia, converting a rebound after Ronaldo’s header hit the post, but it was disallowed as the latter was offside.
Capable of playing across the front-line, he can quickly interchange with Silva and Rafael Leao, and earlier this year was described as Liverpool’s best finisher of the past few decades.
Goncalo Ramos
The man who infamously replaced Ronaldo in the starting XI at the 2022 World Cup, that decision initially worked out brilliantly, with Ramos bagging a hat-trick against Switzerland in Qatar.
He came off the bench to replace Ronaldo in the 2-0 loss to Georgia in the group stage but that’s been his only Euros appearance so far, with just 14 goals over the past 18 months for PSG suggesting the hat-trick may have been a flash in the pan result.
Pedro Neto or Francisco Conceicao
Alternatively, Martinez could opt to play without a natural centre-forward and start another exciting wingers, with Wolves’ Neto the likely option given he can slot in on the left with Leao moving centrally.
Another option would be Conceicao who scored the late winner against Czechia just seconds after coming off the bench, but he typically plays on the right-flank.
Joao Felix, formerly of Chelsea, is also available, but aside from 90 minutes in the dead rubber against Georgia he hasn’t been called upon.
Portugal’s quarter-final clash against France will take place in Hamburg on Friday night.
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