Thierry Henry has criticised Cristiano Ronaldo after Portugal settled for a 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their opening FIFA World Cup Group K match, accusing the veteran forward of putting his personal goals ahead of the team’s success.
Henry Questions Ronaldo’s Decision-Making
Portugal started strongly and took an early lead through Joao Neves. However, DR Congo responded well and levelled through Yoane Wissa to secure a historic point for the African nation in Houston.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo, who made a record sixth World Cup appearance at the age of 41, failed to score as Portugal dropped valuable points in their opening fixture.
Speaking on Fox Sports after the match, Henry singled out a second-half moment involving Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes. The former Arsenal and France striker argued that Ronaldo’s movement disrupted a promising attack.
“One thing that’s important, people, please at home: the team needs to score, not you need to score,” Henry said.
Furthermore, Henry explained how a different run could have created a clear chance for Fernandes.
“If you make that run there, you force the defender to make a decision. But because he wants to score, he goes in Bruno Fernandes’ path,” Henry stated.
Fernandes’ Reaction Highlights Frustration
According to Henry, Ronaldo’s positioning made it easier for the DR Congo defence to stop the move.
“If he went to that small area, the defender would have to follow him, and then it would be an easy goal for Bruno Fernandes. But because he wants to score, he crosses the path of the back pass and it becomes easier for the defence to intercept,” he added.
In response, Henry pointed to Fernandes’ visible frustration after the move broke down.
“And that’s my point: the team needs to score, not you. Did you see Bruno Fernandes’ reaction back there, like: ‘let the ball roll, make the run, create space so I can just tap it in’. It didn’t happen.”
Scrutiny Grows Over Ronaldo’s Role
However, the criticism came after another difficult outing for Ronaldo against a disciplined DR Congo side.
Portugal controlled possession for long periods but struggled to create clear chances after Neves opened the scoring. Consequently, Roberto Martinez’s men failed to find a winning goal.
The result has increased scrutiny over Ronaldo’s role in the national team. The veteran striker continues to endure a lengthy goal drought in major international tournaments.
Furthermore, questions have emerged over whether coach Roberto Martinez should continue building Portugal’s attack around the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star.
Next Matches
Portugal will aim to recover in their next Group K match against Uzbekistan.
Meanwhile, DR Congo head into their clash with Colombia full of confidence after securing the country’s first-ever World Cup point.
External Links
- Fox Sports World Cup Coverage: https://www.foxsports.com
- FIFA World Cup News and Updates: https://www.fifa.com
- Portugal National Team Information: https://www.fpf.pt
