Former World Cup winner Thierry Henry succinctly dismantled Cristiano Ronaldo’s limp performance in Portugal’s disappointing draw with DR Congo by repeating the same scathing message: “The team needs to score, not you.”
Henry has worn an expression of near permanent disdain throughout his first week as a Fox Sports pundit. Alexi Lalas’s deliberately brash statements have chiefly been the source of that scorn, but it was Ronaldo’s disastrous showing for Portugal which inspired Henry’s latest rebuke.
“One thing that’s important,” the Frenchman stressed after Wednesday’s 1–1 draw, looking directly down the camera lens for added impact, “the team needs to score, not you need to score.”
The legendary former Arsenal striker highlighted a specific sequence of play during the second half while Portugal was chasing a winner which never came. Francisco Conceição had wriggled into the box and rather than dart towards the far post—which would have put Ronaldo in position to receive a low cross as well as, more importantly, creating space for Bruno Fernandes behind him—the 41-year-old held his position and stabbed a tame effort wide.
“Because he wants to score, he goes into the path of Bruno Fernandes,” Henry sighed. “It’s easier to defend.”
“That’s my thing,” the Frenchman concluded, “the team needs to score, not you.”
Cristiano Ronaldo Responds to Waves of Criticism
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