Cristiano Ronaldo, the ghost of Euro 2016

Cristiano Ronaldo, the ghost of Euro 2016

Portugal have managed to qualify for the Euro 2016 semi-finals, but Cristiano Ronaldo has failed to shine or been at the level required of a leader.

According to 'La Gazzetta dello Sport', during the European Championships in France, Ronaldo has been like a ghost walking the pitch and passing by unobserved. 

For the Italians, the performances of the Portuguese forward have been characterised by numerous wasted chances from close range, poor touches and failed attempts, culminating in the missed penalty against Austria.

The Real Madrid star's play has been a case of "wanting (to perform) but not being able". It is strange that a player of Ronaldo's stature should have only stood out against Hungary, when he saved his team thanks to his only two goals of the tournament so far. 

Faced with their main player's struggles, Portugal have only been able to draw their games, one after the other. In Italy they highlight the fact that Ronaldo "is the mirror of Portugal", that is to say: "a team that has not been able to win any game in the reglamentary 90 minutes."

The poor play offered by Ronaldo has led to the birth, or resurrection, of two new idols in the Portuguese national team. One is Renato Sanches who, at 18-years-old, is delighting all with his fearless approach. 

The other is Ricardo Quaresma, who, at 32, scored the goal against Croatia in extra-time to send Portugal to the quarter-finals, before netting the winning penalty in the shoot-out against Poland that was worth a ticket to the final four of Euro 2016.