Ronaldo followers should cease pitch invasions, Portugal coach says

Portugal coach Roberto Martínez urged supporters to not invade the pitch to get to Cristiano Ronaldo towards Georgia on Wednesday after confirming the ahead will begin the Group F fixture at Euro 2024.

Six spectators breached safety throughout and after Portugal’s win over Turkey final weekend in the hunt for a selfie with Al Nassr‘s Ronaldo.

That has prompted UEFA to introduce extra safety measures at fixtures in Germany and file felony complaints towards any supporter who invades the pitch.

“[Ronaldo] is a really skilled participant who has been with the nationwide group for over 20 years,” Martínez mentioned in a information convention on Tuesday.

“He is aware of the sort of assist followers present — not simply Portugal followers, however soccer followers typically — however I hope there will not be any extra pitch invasions.

“It’s harmful, and it’s not good for soccer. It is not the a part of the sport that we need to see.”

Ronaldo, 39, smiled and posed for an image with a younger boy who evaded safety to run onto the enjoying floor within the seventieth minute.

A teenage boy then tried to repeat the stunt quarter-hour later, however Ronaldo threw his arms within the air and waved him away earlier than safety stopped the teen.

On each events, German referee Felix Zwayer was pressured to delay the sport till the kids had been faraway from the pitch.

Two extra supporters, this time grownup males, ran onto the pitch in stoppage earlier than being stopped by safety, with two extra spectators repeating the trick as soon as the ultimate whistle had been blown.

Portugal have gained each their video games at Euro 2024 and are already into the spherical of 16, however Martínez will resist the urge to relaxation Ronaldo towards Georgia because the participant seeks the purpose that may make him the oldest scorer within the historical past of the finals.

The file is held by Luka Modric, who was 38 years and 289 days outdated when he netted the primary purpose in Croatia‘s 1-1 draw with Italy on Monday.

“I can inform you that Ronaldo will likely be within the beginning lineup,” Martínez confirmed. “It is vital to maintain his aggressive stage excessive. It is not good to begin and cease.”

Georgia and Napoli winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is trying ahead to going through a participant he idolised rising up.

“Ronaldo was my boyhood idol,” Kvaratskhelia mentioned in a information convention. “I all the time dreamt of enjoying with him. He doesn’t play in Europe anymore, so I am so glad to have this opportunity to play towards him.

“Possibly it truly is a time for desires to come back true, so hopefully I can get a win [against Portugal] and his shirt after the sport.”

Georgia are the lowest-ranked group within the competitors at No. 74 on the planet, however a draw towards Czechia of their earlier sport means they’ll nonetheless attain the spherical of 16 in the event that they beat Portugal.

It could symbolize a outstanding achievement for a nation competing at its first-ever European Championships.

“We’re assured that we are able to win as a result of we went shut towards Turkey and the Czechia,” Kvaratskhelia mentioned. “Something can occur at any second; you’ll be able to create one thing that may be a turning level in any match.

“Not all people was certain that we may do one thing right here, however we’re. And so long as we now have even a 1% probability, we are going to put all our energy into enjoying right here, so as to add new chapters to our historical past.”