Cristiano Ronaldo blasts Iceland’s “small mentality”

• Posted on June 15, 2016
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

Cristiano Ronaldo has blasted Iceland after the European Championship debutants nicked a point off Portugal in their Group F opener.

The Real Madrid star was shackled by former Rotherham defender Kari Arnason as Portugal failed to break down the brace Icelanders.

But Portugal captain Ronaldo, 31, had no appreciation for the minnows’ playing style.

“It was a little bit frustrating, we tried hard to win the game, Iceland didn’t try anything.

“They scored a goal, they created two chances in the ninety minutes and otherwise they got every player behind the ball, they put the bus in the net so it’s difficult when one team don’t try but Portugal try and play football and try to win the game.

ReutersPortugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo appeals to the referee
“It’s a bit frustrating for us but it’s just the beginning for us, we’re not worried about that.

“If you see Spain, France, they are the strongest teams in the tournament and had a difficult time to win their games so for us it was tough but we are confident.

“We’re 100 per cent confident we’ll win our next game.

“The rankings don’t mean anything. We just try our best, keep the ball all the time and Iceland didn’t try anything, they were just ‘defend, defend, defend’ and playing on the counter attack.

“It was a lucky night for them. We should have three point but we are OK.”

GettyCristiano Ronaldo of Portugal
And when asked by MirrorFootball if he saw any romance at all in the Iceland story, Ronaldo was unequivocal.

“I thought they’d won the Euros the way they celebrated at the end, it was unbelievable.

“When they don’t try to play and just defend, defend, defend this in my opinion shows a small mentality and are not going to do anything in the competition.”

-Mirror.co.uk