Portugal's captain, Cristiano Ronaldo, faced mockery from Georgian tennis star Nikoloz Basilashvili after watching his country suffer a surprising 2-0 defeat to Georgia at Euro 2024. This unexpected victory marked Georgia's first major tournament win and secured their place in the knockout stages for the first time.
Georgia, considered minnows in the tournament, had a rough start, losing 3-1 to Turkey in their opening game before managing a 1-1 draw with the Czech Republic. However, they performed exceptionally well against Portugal, a highly ranked team, with Ronaldo unable to score.
During the match, the 39-year-old Al Nassr striker was cautioned in the first half after protesting a no-call from the referee following contact in the penalty box. Ronaldo, visibly frustrated, struggled to make an impact throughout the game. His irritation peaked when he was substituted in the second half for Goncalo Ramos. As he took his place on the bench, Ronaldo reacted angrily, kicking a water bottle.
Basilashvili, a former ATP singles World No. 16, took to social media to mock Ronaldo. On his Instagram story, he posted a sarcastic comment, questioning the forward's emotional reaction to missed chances. "Can someone tell me why Cristiano is crying after every chance he misses?" Basilashvili wrote.
The loss was a significant blow for Portugal and Ronaldo, who has always been known for his competitive spirit and goal-scoring prowess. The match highlighted Ronaldo's struggles and frustrations as he was unable to lead his team to victory against an underdog opponent.
Georgia's historic win has boosted their confidence as they move forward in the tournament. For Ronaldo and Portugal, the focus will now shift to regrouping and addressing the challenges they faced in this unexpected defeat.
Comments