Cristiano Ronaldo led Portugal to a commanding 3-0 victory against the Republic of Ireland in their final warm-up match before Euro 2024. Ronaldo, who scored twice, was instrumental in the team’s resurgence following a defeat by Croatia the previous week. Alongside him, Joao Felix also found the back of the net, helping to boost the team’s morale ahead of the tournament in Germany. The match took place in Aveiro, with veteran defender Pepe, set to become the oldest player to compete in the Euros, also starting.
Despite Portugal’s perfect record in the qualifiers, recent performances had raised some concerns. Ronaldo addressed these doubts, emphasizing the high expectations from fans and the importance of staying grounded while dreaming big for the Euros. He expressed his pride and motivation, reflecting on his journey since his first Euro appearance in 2004.
Ronaldo’s first goal came early in the second half, a beautifully curled shot into the top corner, followed by a well-placed strike set up by Diogo Jota. This performance marked Ronaldo’s record-extending 130th international goal. The Al-Nassr striker almost completed a hat-trick but narrowly missed. Meanwhile, Ireland, under interim coach John O’Shea, struggled to keep up as the game progressed.
Joao Felix opened the scoring in the 18th minute, finishing a clever corner routine. Ronaldo had several near misses in the first half, including a deflected free-kick that hit the post and a shot saved by Irish goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher. Despite these challenges, Ronaldo’s perseverance paid off in the second half, securing the win for Portugal.
Felix highlighted the team’s improvement after the Croatia match, expressing confidence as they head to Germany. Portugal’s Euro 2024 campaign kicks off against the Czech Republic on June 18, followed by matches against Turkey and Georgia in Group F. The team’s solid performance in this final warm-up game has set a positive tone for their upcoming challenges.