Santos backs misfiring Ronaldo for Hungary clash

TIL Desk Sports/ Portugal coach Fernando Santos is backing misfiring Cristiano Ronaldo to break his Euro 2016 duck by netting against Hungary tomorrow to help fire his side into the last 16. Ronaldo is still waiting for his opening goal in France to become the first person to score at four consecutive European championship finals. The 31-year-old is the holder of numerous goal-scoring records, but he has yet to hit the net at Euro 2016, despite 20 chances so far.

Ronaldo set a new Portuguese record with his 128th international cap in Saturday’s goalless draw with Austria – a milestone overshadowed by his penalty miss. He crashed a 79th-minute spot-kick against the post in Paris having also failed to score in the 1-1 draw with Iceland last Tuesday. The star that fans either love or hate won few Icelandic friends by slamming their team’s “small mentality” after the draw. This has been a frustrating tournament for Ronaldo.

His Portugal side has failed to live up to their pre-tournament billing as Group F favourites. They lie only third in the table behind Iceland and Hungary, who they must beat at the Stade de Lyon to be sure of reaching the last 16. “Ronaldo is a player who scores a lot of goals and I’m sure he will score in the next game against Hungary,” said Santos. Portugal had 23 shots on the Austria goal — hitting the woodwork twice — and Santos expects his side to find the net and win ‘ugly’ if need be. “It was the first time we failed to score during my reign,” said Santos.