Rio de Janeiro: Brazilian legend Ronaldo Nazário expressed his disinterest in watching football, stating that he finds the sport very boring now. He revealed his preference for watching tennis over football in a recent interview with Eurosport. "I think I enjoy tennis more than football now. I can't bear to watch football matches anymore; they are very boring to me. But I can watch tennis for up to five hours," Ronaldo said. His comments have come amidst Brazil's underwhelming performance in the Copa America tournament.Ronaldo is not the first Brazilian star to express such a sentiment. Ahead of the Copa America tournament, former player Ronaldinho also stated that he wouldn't be watching Brazil's matches. "I'm done with it. It's a sad time for those who love Brazilian football. I can't find the energy to watch Brazil's matches. This is the worst team Brazil has had in years, with no good leaders or players. Most of them are just average," Ronaldinho had remarked on Instagram.
Uruguay's Goal Fest at Copa America; Bolivia Crushed
New Jersey: Uruguay stormed into the Copa America quarter-finals with a commanding victory over Bolivia, securing their second consecutive win. Uruguay dismantled Bolivia with a resounding 5-0 triumph. The match saw an early attempt by Darwin Núñez, but Uruguay had to wait a few more moments for the first goal.In the 8th minute, Facundo Pellistri netted the opener. Pellistri scored with a stunning header from a Ronald Araujo assist. In the 21st minute, Darwin Núñez scored the second goal with a assist from Maximiliano Araujo. Uruguay led 2-0 by the end of the first half.
In the second half, Uruguay extended their lead in the 77th minute. Maximiliano Araujo found the net with a right-footed shot from a Nicolás de la Cruz assist. In the 81st minute, Federico Valverde further increased the lead, assisted by Facundo Pellistri. Veteran player Luis Suárez came on as a substitute in the 82nd minute. Finally, Rodrigo Bentancur scored in the 89th minute, sealing Bolivia's defeat.
Euro Cup's 'Do or Die' Battles; Pre-Quarter Match Schedule
Munich: The lineup for the Euro Cup knockout stages is set. With the group stage matches concluded, the pre-quarterfinals are ready to commence from June 29 to July 3. Twenty-four teams have been whittled down to sixteen, including six group champions, six runners-up, and four best third-placed teams. Unexpected twists include the elimination of Croatia and the surprising advancement of Romania and Austria as group champions.The pre-quarterfinals kick off on Saturday night at 9:30 PM IST with defending champions Italy facing Switzerland. That night, hosts Germany will take on Denmark, including Christian Eriksen, in the second match. On Sunday, England and Spain will enter the fray. England will face Slovakia at 9:30 PM, while Spain will battle the impressive newcomers Georgia at 12:30 AM. Georgia, having defeated Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal 2-0, will not be underestimated by Spain.
The much-anticipated glamour match of the pre-quarters is on July 1, when the second and third-ranked teams in the world, France and Belgium, clash at 12:30 AM. On the same day, Portugal will take on Slovenia at 9:30 PM, aiming to shake off the disappointment of losing to Georgia. Slovenia will be their opponents.On July 2, the Netherlands will play their match against group E champions Romania. The last pre-quarterfinal on July 3 at 12:30 AM will see Austria face Turkey. From this stage, there will be no draws, with extra time and penalties if necessary. It’s all about winning, with the beauty of football under pressure.
Pre-Quarter Match Schedule
June 29 - 9:30 PM: Switzerland vs Italy
June 30 - 12:30 AM: Germany vs Denmark
June 30 - 9:30 PM: England vs Slovakia
July 01 - 12:30 AM: Spain vs Georgia
July 01 - 9:30 PM: France vs Belgium
July 02 - 12:30 AM: Portugal vs Slovenia
July 02 - 9:30 PM: Romania vs Netherlands
July 03 - 12:30 AM: Austria vs Turkey
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Frustration with Referee
Berlin: During the Euro Cup match against Turkey, Cristiano Ronaldo expressed his frustration towards the referee. The incident occurred in the 27th minute when a Turkish player grabbed Ronaldo’s jersey in the Georgian box. Ronaldo fell and demanded a penalty, but the referee waved play on. This decision infuriated the Portuguese captain. Ronaldo pointed out to the referee that his shirt had been pulled, urging him to open his eyes and see. The referee responded by issuing Ronaldo a yellow card. Portugal ultimately lost the match 2-0 to Georgia, who have reached the Euro Cup pre-quarters for the first time.
In the 90th second, Georgia took the lead through a goal by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, capitalizing on a mistake by Portuguese defender Antonio Silva. In the 57th minute of the second half, Mikotadze scored the second goal from a penalty, cementing Portugal’s defeat. Georgian goalkeeper Mamardashvili played a crucial role throughout the match with outstanding saves.
Historic Words; The 7th Number in Georgian Victory
After the Euro Cup match against Portugal, would you ask Cristiano Ronaldo for his jersey? Absolutely, he would. He’s a huge fan. But this doesn’t diminish Georgia’s chances in the tournament. Two weeks ago, Georgian player Khvicha Kvaratskhelia said he would ask Ronaldo for his jersey if they played against him. Ten days later, his words have come true. The seventh number of Georgia led the team to a historic victory. Eleven years ago, Cristiano Ronaldo visited Georgia. Among the crowd, a twelve-year-old boy stroked Ronaldo's head and took a photo with him. That boy is now 23. As Georgia made history by reaching the Euro Cup pre-quarters, that photo has gone viral on the internet.
Just 90 seconds into the match, Georgian forward Kvaratskhelia capitalized on a mistake by Portuguese defender Antonio Silva to score. This moment marked the beginning of Georgia’s historic journey in the Euro Cup. Ranked 74th by FIFA, Georgia stunned the sixth-ranked Portugal. The 23-year-old Kvaratskhelia is already well-known in the football world. He was a key player in Napoli’s Serie A victory after 33 years. His skills and confidence have been widely discussed. Kvaratskhelia is now preparing for a move to London, where he will soon play for Liverpool in the English Premier League.
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