Cristiano Ronaldo Leads Portugal to Euro 2024 with Thrilling Victory Over Slovakia

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Cristiano Ronaldo played a pivotal role in Portugal’s thrilling 3-2 victory over Slovakia, securing their place at Euro 2024. Ronaldo scored twice during the match, with his first goal coming from a penalty in the first half. Portugal’s perfect record of seven wins from seven matches in Group J has earned them 21 points, guaranteeing a top-two finish. Slovakia is in second place, eight points behind Portugal and two points ahead of Luxembourg, which drew 1-1 with Iceland.

Ronaldo put Portugal ahead early in the match, converting a header from a Bruno Fernandes cross in the eighth minute. This was the seventh goal in nine matches for Fernandes and the sixth assist of the campaign. Ronaldo later had the opportunity to extend the lead but was denied by an incredible one-handed save by Slovakia’s Martin Dubravka in the 26th minute.

In the 29th minute, a VAR-confirmed handball decision awarded Portugal a penalty, which Ronaldo converted to score his 124th goal for Portugal. He had previously scored his first international goal against Greece at this same venue during Euro 2004.

Slovakia managed to get back into the game in the 69th minute when David Hancko’s shot deflected off Antonio Silva’s heel and into the net, marking the first goal Portugal had conceded in the qualifying rounds. Ronaldo swiftly restored the two-goal advantage, tapping in a cross from Fernandes in the 72nd minute, bringing his total international goals to 125.

With just 10 minutes left, Slovakia pulled within one goal, as Stanislav Lobotka scored from outside the area, burying the ball in the top corner. Although Portugal had the chance to seal the victory late in the game, Diogo Jota was denied by an excellent save from Dubravka. However, Portugal secured their place in Euro 2024.

In another match, Kylian Mbappe scored twice to lead France to a 2-1 victory over a depleted Netherlands, securing France’s place in Euro 2024 with two games to spare. Despite having several key players missing due to injuries and illnesses, the Netherlands will need to compete with Greece for second place in Group B.

The Dutch team had to contend with the absence of several key players, including Memphis Depay and Cody Gakpo, which made their task even more challenging. Mbappe opened the scoring in the seventh minute with a precise volley from a Jonathan Clauss cross. He later scored his second goal with a superbly curled strike into the top corner in the 53rd minute, his 42nd international goal, overtaking French legend Michel Platini and putting him fourth in the all-time list.

Although Joey Veerman had a chance to score for the Netherlands in the first half, the Dutch struggled to break down France’s defense. Quilindschy Hartman scored for the Netherlands in the 83rd minute, but it wasn’t enough to secure the win.

In a friendly match, England defeated Australia 1-0 thanks to Ollie Watkins’ second-half goal. However, the match was marred by jeers directed at Jordan Henderson by the crowd when he was substituted in the second half. England featured an experimental lineup, resting many key players for the crucial Euro 2024 qualifier against Italy. The match featured a host of new faces and lacked fluidity. Watkins’ goal provided the only highlight of the encounter.

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