Ronaldo Snatches a Dramatic Win for Struggling Portugal
Portugal was supposed to be the sure thing in Euro 2016's Group I.
Albania was expected to be only a bump in the road for the Quinas and then go back to exporting frogs' legs to France.
So when the Eagles ambushed Portugal with a 1-0 result with Cristiano absent due to injury, a few hard facts became evident:
- Laurels just aren't what they used to be; hell, the Germans lost to Poland, Holland's dropped a match to upstart Iceland, and Northern Ireland's victory over Greece has them at nine points right now.
- Albania's Italian manager has a clue.
- Portugal's match aganist the Danes was not one to be taken lightly.
Denmark felt the same way. An artistic side with a fundamentally sound defense and reasonable expectations to squeak into the finals in France, the Dynamite frustrated Portugal throughout, apparently content to earn a point at home.
Then, in the 95th minute -- extra time -- this happened:
Imagine if that announcer ever scored with a hot blonde.
At times of despair, superheroes come to the rescue. Cristiano Ronaldo came flying in above the reach of Danish goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel and defender Simon Kjaer to single-handedly -- or should we say single-headedly -- gift-wrap three points for the Portuguese.
Ronaldo seems to save his best for Denmark. Here he is in 2011:
If it wasn't obvious before, it is now. Ronaldo must remain healthy if Portugal is to make it to France for the Euro 2016 finals.
