Portugal manager on Ronaldo and Pepe’s future after Euro 2024 exit: ‘His tears are frustration…we are still suffering the defeat’

Portugal’s exit from the 2024 European Championships after a defeat to France in the quarter-finals raised a pertinent question: is this it for Cristiano Ronaldo (39) and Pepe (41) at the international stage.

Manager Roberto Martinez was asked the same in the post-match press conference. “Everything is too raw. We are still suffering the defeat. There’s no individual decisions at this point,” he responded.

“The two old men of football,” as Gary Lineker called them on BBC Sport have been part of the national team since 2003 (Ronaldo) and 2007 (Pepe). While Ronaldo had announced ahead of the tournament that this would be his last Euros for the national team, Pepe had kept mum on the subject.

After the penalty shootout loss against France, Ronaldo was seen consoling his oldest teammate, a teary-eyed Pepe.

“His tears are frustration,” said Martinez. “Pepe is a role model in Portuguese football. What he did tonight and in the tournament will stay with us for the next generations.”

Former Portugal defender Jose Fonte also believes it may be the end of the line for the duo.

Portugal’s goalkeeper Diogo Costa, Pepe and Cristiano Ronaldo, from left, react after losing a quarter final match between Portugal and France at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Hamburg, Germany, Friday, July 5, 2024. France won a penalty shoot out 4-3 after the match ended in a 0-0 draw. (AP/PTI)

“They probably know it’s the end of the line in the national team, perhaps. Where do you go from here?” Fonte told BBC Sport.

“They’ve achieved so much, they’ve done so much for Portugal, sometimes you just have to give your place to the young boys coming up and let them show their talent,” he added.

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While Pepe had an impressive few outings in the backline as Portugal conceded thrice from their five games at these Euros, Ronaldo had a forgettable outing. The Portuguese captain failed to score in a major tournament for the first time in his career since Euro 2004.

Ronaldo failed to score from a total of 23 shots he took, the most attempts by a player without finding the net at a major tournament since 2010, per Opta, which is when Lionel Messi had 29 shots without scoring for Argentina.

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