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– It's a bit sad if it's about his legacy. What a career, what a footballer. He's in the list of the best in the world ever. But what bothers me a bit is that we couldn't see another Portugal striker in this European Championship.

This is what NRK expert Kristoffer Løkberg says about Cristiano Ronaldo after the European Commission's exit to France.

Ronaldo heard it during the tournament. For several years he was probably the best player in the world. But now the star is receiving a severe punishment from the EC.

– Ronaldo had a very weak tournament, he is a shadow of the player he was before. It is not surprising when you consider how many years he has spent at the highest level, but based on his performances in this European tournament, he was perhaps the weakest in Portugal?

The criticism comes after Portugal's dramatic exit from the European Union on penalties. In the end, Joao Felix was the scapegoat when he was the only player absent.

Required status

NRK expert Åge Hareide also criticizes Cristiano Ronaldo's performance.

“I think he’s still too much of a presence. He wants the posts in the box and he hopes they come down to the posts so he can take the space in the first post. You’re counting on a striker who shows himself on the ball. “He has a lot more room to work in than he can now,” Haride says of Ronaldo.

The star had several chances in front of goal, but the biggest came in the first period of extra time. Unfortunately for Portugal and Ronaldo, the end went too far.

Fellow expert Christopher Löckberg believes the situation with Ronaldo is difficult for Portugal.

He believes the star is being misused by manager Roberto Martinez.

– There are world stars on the pitch who demand the ball, and then almost have to hit it. Even when the choice is wrong. It is characteristic of good players. It was very difficult for Martinez and his teammates in this Ronaldo situation, says Løkberg.

– If this development continues, Portugal will be better off without him in the team, says Løkberg about Ronaldo's future.

Ended in tears

Ronaldo himself felt hopeless after Portugal lost on penalties.

– Click in this post, not even inside. It's brutal, says NRK expert Karl-Erik Torp about Joao Felix's miss, which was decisive in the penalty shootout.

Television images showed how his teammates consoled Felix after the penalty kick, when everything was in France's favour.

Portuguese star Rafael Leao felt very disappointed after the loss.

– The fans were great, and unfortunately it's over. I don't know what to say. I think we created a lot of chances, but we didn't win. Unfortunately, during the penalty shootout, France were unlucky, as Leao said after the match.

He says he was hurt by Felix's penalty miss.

– He has a tough night, but I think he will be able to get the best out of it. He says he is important for us now and in the future.

It was very difficult when all the other players were safe from a penalty kick.

France will now face Spain in the semi-finals.

– We are all very happy with this win and in the penalty shootout we managed to do it. “Portugal is a very difficult team to beat, but I think we deserved this win,” said the Frenchman Ousmane Dembele after the match.

I got a chance to dream

There was also no shortage of drama before the quarter-finals were decided. What was at stake was shown, among other things, when Ronaldo was left in despair after his big chance in the first period of extra time.

“What a chance he gets,” cried Andreas Stabron Smith. “He got the job there.”

Cristiano Ronaldo could have sent Portugal to the European Championship and decorated his historic statistics. But in his sixth World Cup, things did not go Ronaldo's way.

“He barely touched the ball,” NRK analyst Tite Liedbom said of Ronaldo.

During the match, the BBC reported that Ronaldo touched the ball 11 times, which was the least in the match.

Ronaldo's performance was actually so poor that it surprised NRK expert Åge Hareide.

– It's actually quite amazing. He was at a “standstill” inside France's 16-meter zone. But he also complained a lot because he didn't get the service he should have, says Haridi.