Is Cristiano Ronaldo Playing Tonight for Turkey vs Portugal in UEFA Euro 2024?

Portugal is set to ignite the UEFA Euro 2024 stage tonight as they clash with Turkey. Following a hard-earned 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic, the team, led by the enigmatic Cristiano Ronaldo, is poised to maintain their winning streak. As the countdown to kick-off at Borussia Dortmund’s Signal Iduna Park continues, the question on every fan’s mind is: Will Ronaldo grace the field tonight?

Speculation was rife after the match against Czechia that Ronaldo might be left out of Roberto Martinez’s starting XI despite the team’s victory. The spotlight was on the Portuguese superstar, who had a relatively quiet game by his own high standards and failed to score. The team’s opening goal and the winning strike were both courtesy of an own-goal and a late winner by Francisco Conceicao, respectively.

However, despite all the fans and critics raising their fingers, Cristiano Ronaldo will start against Turkey. The 39-year-old will get a chance for redemption and, hopefully, will look to get back to his scoring ways. Martinez is expected to retain the rest of the starting lineup as well. After all, Turkey is a team that should not be taken lightly. They are coming with an emphatic 3-1 victory over Georgia and are at the top thanks to a goal difference.

The stakes are high for both teams in this match, as a win for either side could significantly boost their chances in the next stage of the competition. This makes the game a crucial one for Portugal, particularly for Ronaldo, who is eager to silence his critics. Despite the current wave of criticism, the team captain has found support in his former Manchester United teammate.

Patrice Evra came in defense of Cristiano Ronaldo over benching claims

During the Portugal-Czechia match, Patrice Evra didn’t hold back over the criticism of Cristiano Ronaldo. The former left-back already predicted that if Roberto Martinez’s side had lost against Czechia, the first headline would have been “Cristiano shouldn’t start.” Evra further asserted that subbing off CR7 in the final minutes is not advisable, given that the legendary striker manages to find and create something in spill second. Even all the negative talk surrounding Portugal and Ronaldo is unfair. 

While defending the former Real Madrid star, Evra brought England and Harry Kane into the discussion. He highlighted that when one compares Ronaldo’s game to Kane, Ronaldo would have more opportunities and touch the ball more frequently. However, no one suggests that England should bench Kane. Therefore, Evra urged everyone to stop focusing on Ronaldo’s age. Perhaps fans can cut some slack to Ronaldo, given that it was the opening match. However, hope remains on him to turn out well against Turkey tonight.