Former Manchester United defender Wes Brown has dropped his theory on why Cristiano Ronaldo was not pulled from free-kick duties for Portugal at Euro 2024.
Cristiano Ronaldo competed at his sixth European Championship tournament this summer and his 11th major international competition overall for Portugal.
The 39-year-old Manchester United legend retained the captain’s armband under Roberto Martinez, who succeeded Fernando Santos in 2023 as Portugal manager.
Portugal were widely tipped as one of the favourites to win Euro 2024 in Germany this summer after an impressive qualifying campaign under Roberto Martinez.
However, the Euro 2016 champions disappointed with their performances at this summer’s Euros, having fallen short in the quarter-finals to France.
Portugal came from behind to beat the Czech Republic 2-1 in their Group F opener before comfortably defeating Turkey 3-0.
Martinez’s men were then stunned in a 2-0 defeat to Georgia, but Portugal had done enough to finish top of Group F and progressed to the round of 16.
Portugal were held to a 0-0 draw in regular time in the last 16 against Slovenia before claiming their win on penalties and securing their place in the last eight.
Brown talks Ronaldo and Portugal at Euro 2024
Portugal crashed out of the competition in the last eight against France, with Didier Deschamps’ men securing their victory on penalties last week.
Cristiano Ronaldo disappointed at Euro 2024 and failed to find the back of the net for Portugal, with the Al Nassr star picking up only an assist at the tournament.
The Manchester United legend was heavily criticised for his performances, including his commitment to taking the majority of Portugal’s free-kicks at Euro 2024.
Ronaldo has taken 61 direct free-kicks at major international tournaments for Portugal and scored only once, which came during his hat-trick against Spain at the 2018 World Cup.
Speaking on the Euro Thrash podcast, Wes Brown has offered his two cents on why former United teammate Ronaldo took so many free-kicks for Portugal.
Brown claimed that Portugal players didn’t protest the decision to take Ronaldo off free-kicks because Roberto Martinez would not make the call and this would also be the former United star’s last Euros.
“There is a lot of respect in that team for Ronaldo,” he said.
“There was one free-kick that was not even on his side, but he took it anyway because he wants to score. I do think it comes to a stage and the lads will think, ‘He’s not going to take him off, there’s no chance, this is going to be his last Euros.’
“He is still that guy who can get you a goal. I don’t think there is anyone else in that team who has been scoring outright.
“Yes, he wasn’t playing particularly well, but I don’t think the manager wanted that responsibility and the press that comes with it to take him off, that definitely would have come into it a little bit.”
Brown on Bruno Fernandes coming off vs France
Portugal boss Martinez made the controversial call to hook United captain Bruno Fernandes off the pitch against France during the 0-0 scoreline in the second half.
Bruno Fernandes had underwhelmed with his performance against France, but even United fans were baffled by the Portugal midfielder coming off ahead of Ronaldo.
Speaking on the decision to sub off Fernandes, Brown said: “He would have been angry.
“He came off in the 75th minute [against France] and he was actually getting on the ball trying to create. You’re going to be frustrated. But if anything, Ronaldo has earned that.
“I know it is tough but he has 100 per cent earned the right to stay on the pitch because he can still get you a goal.”
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
