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THE PEOPLE OF Iceland have really been getting behind their team at the Euros…
Iceland is the smallest nation ever to feature at a European Championships – and fans were justifiably thrilled to see their team become part of the tournament (as, indeed, we were back in ’88).
From current politicians to former members of the Sugarcubes, the excitement in the tiny Nordic country has been palpable on social media…
Along came Ronaldo
No surprise then that some pretty harsh criticism from one of the global superstars of football in the wake of their 1-1 draw with Portugal last night hasn’t gone down too well…
It’s not just Icelanders, in fact, heaping opprobrium on Cristiano Ronaldo today after the star slammed his opponents for “parking the bus” in front of their goal.
The forward’s parting shots are difficult to categorise as anything other than sour grapes…
The Real Madrid star had ten of Portugal’s 24 shots on goal last night, but stormed off after the final whistle, clearly frustrated by his own failure.
Iceland, meanwhile, scored by converting one of only four chances.
“It was difficult over the 90 minutes, because they scored one goal and that was after they had put every player behind the ball,” he fumed afterwards.
“They put the bus in the net. Iceland didn’t try nothing, they just defend, defend, defend. It was a lucky night for them.
We’re frustrated, they didn’t try and play. It’s why I think they will do nothing here. In my opinion, it’s a small mentality.
That “small mentality” remark in particular appears to have struck a nerve.
Iceland is one of the smallest nations going, with an adult population of just over a quarter of a million people (around three Croke Parks-worth). It’s been ruled by both Norway and Denmark in the last thousand years, and is still reeling from one of the biggest financial crashes in the history of the planet.
By contrast, there are some ten million people in Portugal. And while the country’s hardly a world superpower these days, it once presided over a huge empire encompassing Brazil and swathes of Africa and Asia. Around 200 million people still speak Portuguese today.
‘Bad loser’
Did any of that occur to Ronaldo before he opened his mouth last night?
Frankly, it’s unlikely anyone will ask.
“It just makes it sweeter that he is a bad loser,” Iceland midfielder Kari Arnason responded in the wake of their historic result.
We are a small island in the Atlantic Ocean and we got a draw against them.
A glance at reaction from this respected magazine in Reykjavik (below) – one of two main English language news sources in the country – is a pretty good indication of the national mood among our friends to the north right now…
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It was a good bus though – and totally within the laws…
Ranoldo is carbage and over rated and was bet by a tiny nation that jailed bankers.. Well done Iceland
Ben – we’re an even smaller country, which jailed bankers also…
pop of Iceland 323,000, there are more people in Cork.
Correct Bill, on both points.
We’re still a smaller country but a bigger population
Yes – in fact, we’re smaller that both Iceland and Portugal.
And all three countries jailed bankers, in recent years.
Award. Most ridiculous comment of the day. What’s “carbage”. Have you seen Ronaldo’s goal haul and medal count. What bankers were jailed? Another myth…..
And Ronaldo is from Madeira. Population 270,000. You’d think he’d show some solidarity to his fellow Islanders
Drumm was jailed here – one example, lex. Your friend, google, will provide the Portuguese and Icelandic names.
Drummer wasn’t jailed here he was held on remand in the US
Madeira is a “Piece of Cake” at football.
.
https://www.stork.co.za/recipes/madeira-cake/
Drumm spent time in jail here, on his return from the US.
Which bankers?
Flex, you need a colonoscopy….. Definitely something up there bothering you….
Community service for bankers,the horrors of Mountjoy for TV licence people more like it. Cop on!!!
Drumm hasn’t gone on trial yet. He was jailed in the USA, but is now free in Ireland awaiting trial.Community service is a likely outcome for bankrupting the country.
Hold on Ronaldo we’ll just let you score as many times as you want then will we . What a muppet. Well done Iceland .
Another big occasion when Ronaldo didn’t turn up. Very frequent these times. He is no Messi, that is clear
He is a moaner and lacks class
Could be argued messi doesn’t turn up for Argentina either
Must have been another Messi got a hatrick for Argentina in 30 minutes the other night so.
Yup. He pays his taxes and doesn’t have a stench of corruption following him around
‘Must have been another Messi got a hatrick for Argentina in 30 minutes the other night so’
Against the stellar opponents of Panama? Come on.
Good man, Flex. Let’s pretend you really care about the taxes of a man you don’t know, in a country you don’t live in.
Panama and Iceland, is there much difference in the two countries footballing abilities?
Or a different Messi that carried Argentina through the 2012 World Cup
Yes there is. Iceland’s current team is easily superior to Panama. Also Messi is playing in a team that contains superstars like Di Maria, Mascherano and Aguero. Ronaldo is playing alongside journeymen like Nani and Quaresma. It’s not a fair comparison.
Ronaldo is making a fool of himself.
The Iceland team had a plan and they accomplished it. Sure they parked the bus. Exactly as Portugal would have done if they were 1 up against Germany in the final.
I would turn the tables on Ronaldo and ask should he be on €500k a week if he wasn’t able to move the bus.
What a tosser Ronaldo is.
I thought the idea was to stop the opposition scoring must have missed something there
Or play football and try to score
They did score..
If you are a male between the ages of 18 and 30 in Iceland, you have a one in 500 chance of being in their Euro squad
And I still wouldn’t make it!
If you live in England and you have an Irish Granny you have a 1in100 chance of playing for Ireland.
And I still wouldn’t make it.
Hes such a dick
Ronaldo’s a self centred narcissist. It has to be all about him. Iceland took the silly smirk off his puss. Even better if they won! I love Portugal as a country, but he’s a one man band, and lacks the necessary leadership qualities. Iceland showed great spirit, and maximised their teamwork !
Off the subject a bit, watching the Rte commentary here,Damien Duff is bloody rubbish, slap Joey Barton on there instead for a bit of straight talking n less of stating the obvious
Duff is diabolical. Hunt is pretty good though. He’s got potential.
All cool points, bar the icelandics jailed their bankers.a great bunch of lads! Poor sportsmanship off ronaldo last night.
The Icelanders did not `hammer`the Portugese, it was a draw both teams go into their next game with a point each.
Wow…you don’t miss a thing
Oh no, the burns ward is already so full. :(
Yes Iceland is right about him being a sore loser but you can’t say Ronaldo isn’t wrong in what he said.
Ah the mediocrity celebrating, success hating fans of certain English clubs don’t see it that way….
Celebrating mediocrity. Have they been taking lessons from us Irish?
Jaysus Flex, you’re having a right go at the lesser nations and their style of football. To put it into context, Portugal are no great shakes themselves. Definitely not world beaters and rarely turn up for a major tournament. So well done Iceland for taking a point off another lesser football country.
Truth is ..
he’d never get a job with Dublin Bus
… if he couldn’t move a bus.
i’ll get me coat..
He was hoping Iceland would only have a tram parked in front of goal, he could have done the training course during the half time interval and moved it no bother then.
Haha or a plane haha he could have landed an Airbus a380 and the left it haha in front of the goal hahaha oh stop
Ronaldo is a winner. He’s not happy with a draw against Iceland. If he was saying ‘Fair play Iceland’ he wouldn’t be the phenomenal goal scorer and winner that he is.
Yes he would, he would just also have a bit of class.
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