"Indulged something that was hurting his team" – Pundit slams Portugal coach for his Cristiano Ronaldo decision in Euro 2024 exit to France

Ex-Chelsea star Tony Cascarino has hit out at Portugal manager Roberto Martinez for sticking with Cristiano Ronaldo for 120 minutes in their recent UEFA Euro 2024 quarter-final exit to France.

Earlier on Friday (July 5), Portugal failed to keep their Euro 2024 dream alive after tasting defeat at the hands of Les Bleus. They lost 5-3 on penalties after recording a 0-0 stalemate at the end of regulation time.

Ronaldo, who started all five of Portugal's matches in Germany, endured a difficult time against France. The 39-year-old took just 40 touches, completed 21 of his 26 passes, and registered just one shot on target.

Speaking on talkSPORT, Cascarino lambasted Martinez for not taking Ronaldo off in Portugal's recent contest. He said (h/t Caught Offside):

"How can you justify it? How does Martinez as a coach, manager, justify keeping him on? He had nothing to say in that game. And you can say previous games, he backed him and talked very highly of what a great professional he was. But you're watching that game last night, and if he was a young lad, he'd have been hauled off at half time."

Cascarino, who represented Republic of Ireland 88 times, continued:

"You've been beaten by a French team, okay, and it's gone to penalties. They couldn’'t have played as poorly as they did last night, the French. They were really disappointing again. And all their top players didn't turn up. No one was that exciting. [Ousmane] Dembele came on, and probably [William] Saliba did as well as anybody. Even [N'Golo] Kante didn't have his best game."

Sharing further thoughts on the ex-Everton manager, Cascarino added:

"And they've knocked you out. I think as the days roll on, it will be a huge disappointment. And I'm afraid he's played a part in the reason why they haven't got past France, the manager, because he indulged something that was hurting his team."

France's William Saliba opens up on facing Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal at Euro 2024

After France's recent Euro 2024 win, Les Bleus defender William Saliba stated that he was happy to stop Cristiano Ronaldo from scoring in the quarter-final clash. He said (h/t Metro):

"It was not an easy game because we faced one of the best teams in the tournament in Portugal. We knew we shouldn't give him space. We're happy we didn't concede."

Saliba, 23, completed 48 of his 49 passes and won one of three of his duels in Les Bleus' penalty shootout win over Roberto Martinez's side.

Ronaldo, meanwhile, failed to score a single goal at the Euro 2024.