'I don't get the hate' – Neal Maupay gives passionate defence of Cristiano Ronaldo after Euro 2024 tears
07/02/2024 06:52 AM
Everton striker Neal Maupay has defended Cristiano Ronaldo following his tearful episode during Portugal's clash with Slovenia.
Television cameras showed images of Ronaldo in floods of tears shortly after seeing his spot kick brilliantly saved by Jan Oblak in extra time.
The star forward was subsequently consoled by teammates prior to the second period of extra time with the game still goalless.
However, the tears turned to smiles a short while later as Portugal found their shooting boots from 12 yards to see off Slovenia 3-0 in a penalty shootout.
Ronaldo was keen to atone for his earlier error and took the unfamiliar path of stepping up to take the first penalty, which he brilliantly dispatched.
Despite Portugal's triumph, Ronaldo's tearful moment stole the headlines and the 39-year-old has come in for criticism over the timing of his public display of emotion.
But Maupay, who is not shy to poke fun at fellow players, has defended Ronaldo's weeping and believes the moment shows he is a normal person with emotions like everyone else.
"There's no shame in crying," Maupay told talkSPORT. "Sometimes it annoys me, football fans want players to be normal people.
"They say 'they are superstars, they don't care about the world we live in'. Then when arguably the biggest player in football history cries on the pitch because he's got emotions, everyone is on him.
"I don't really get that. It's normal, he missed a penalty and at the time he maybe thought we might get knocked out because of me.
"He cried, and I loved that personally, so I don't really get the hate."
Portugal's victory saw them safely through to Friday's quarter final against France who themselves were made to work for their spot in the last eight.
France held off Belgium to edge a 1-0 victory to set up a mouthwatering clash which will inevitably be billed as Ronaldo vs Kylian Mbappe.
Les Bleus have the opportunity to inflict revenge on their opponents following Portugal's shock 1-0 win over France in the Euro 2016 final in Paris.
Ronaldo, who is yet to register a goal in Euro 2024, hobbled off early on with an injury in the final eight years ago but will hope to upstage Mbappe in what is likely to be his international tournament swansong.
The winner will face the victor of Spain's clash with Germany in next week's semi final.
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