Ronaldo, Lewandowski battle for Euro semi-final slot

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Portugal's forward Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after winning the round of sixteen football match Croatia against Portugal of the Euro 2016 football tournament, on June 25, 2016 at the Bollaert-Delelis stadium in Lens. FRANCISCO LEONG / AFP

Lewandowski

Two of Europe’s most prolific marksmen go head-to-head as Robert Lewandowski aims to end Cristiano Ronaldo’s dreams of landing an international trophy when Poland meet Portugal in a Euro 2016 quarterfinal clash today.

Ronaldo is just one goal away from even more European championship history by matching French legend Michel Platini’s record mark of nine goals in the finals.

The Real Madrid star has already become the first player to score in four Euros and broken the competition record for appearances.

At 31 Ronaldo is unlikely to get a better chance for international glory with the winners in Marseille facing a semi-final clash against his Real Madrid teammate Gareth Bale and Wales or Belgium.

Despite a double against Hungary to save Portugal’s blushes to sneak through the group stage in third place, Ronaldo has yet to catch fire in France.

A flat display and post-match rant against Iceland in Portugal’s opener was followed by a missed penalty in a stalemate against Austria.

He was also kept quiet for 117 minutes a dull last 16 clash with Croatia, but his only effort on goal led to the breakthrough as Ricardo Quaresma headed home after Danijel Subasic parried Ronaldo’s effort.

Lucky Portugal

“We’ll always have a chance. We’ve got the best player in the world — Ronaldo — and the likes of Nani, Quaresma and Joao Mario,” said Portugal defender Jose Fonte.

Portugal were criticised for their negative approach against Croatia as for the first time in Euros history no team had a shot on target during the regulation 90 minutes.

However, Fonte insists Fernando Santos’s men don’t care how they play as long as they make the last four.

Culled from www. The Hindu.com