Roy Keane revealed the exact moment he knew his career was over.
Roy Keane revealed the exact moment he knew his career was over.
Portugal’s European Championship hopes ended on Friday evening, with Roberto Martinez’s side falling to a 5-3 quarter-final defeat against France.
It was a game that perhaps marked Cristiano Ronaldo last major championship appearance for Portugal, with the 39-year-old five-time Ballon d’Or having failed to score across the entire tournament.
While insisting the misfiring Ronaldo should at least temporarily step back from international football, Keane recalled the moment he knew it was time to hang up his boots.
Speaking on the Overlap, courtesy of Sky Bet, the former Manchester United skipper said: “For me it was the training – I was at Celtic, and players can try and help you and I was injured, but it was the training and taking painkillers.
“Everything in training was an effort and you’re like, ‘This is just training.’ When you start losing your love of training [you’re like time is up] – we all love training.”
Keane added: “[Cristiano Ronaldo] should have a break and step back from international football, and if he’s still playing at club level, then have a look at the world cup when it comes around.”
Meanwhile, Ian Wright compared Ronaldo’s performances for Portugal to his time at Burnley at the end of his career.
Wright said: “There are certain players that I know that when I was doing my stuff, they wouldn’t have been able to get near me with the movement.
Keane insisted he knew it was time to hang up his boots while training at Celtic (Getty)
“I could not get away from anyone and this is what I’m seeing when I’m watching [Cristiano] Ronaldo, is that he’s doing the stuff, but they [defenders] are there.
“I was 36 and at Burnley – we got promoted at the very end but when you’re playing against certain players and you do stuff – I said to myself, ‘I’m done’.
“Going to Burnley for my first coach at [Crystal] Palace, Stan Ternent, he said, ‘Listen, come, we have half a chance, you’re experienced’, but then when you’re playing you feel, ‘This is embarrassing – I can’t do anything – I can’t even hold some of the ball in games’.”
One England player ‘refused to celebrate’ penalty shootout win as telling reaction spotted (an)
An England player did not immediately celebrate the penalty shoot-out triumph against Switzerland.
One England player appeared to initially refuse to celebrate the penalty shoot-out win over Switzerland.
Following a 1-1 draw in 120 minutes of action, the Three Lions emerged victorious via spot-kicks in Dusseldorf.
Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Ivan Toney and Trent Alexander-Arnold all kept their cool to convert past Yann Sommer.
Helped by a water bottle containing key information on takers, Jordan Pickford made a superb save to deny Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji and ultimately set up a semi final showdown with the Netherlands on Wednesday.
Alexander-Arnold scored the winning spot-kick and sparked incredible scenes behind the goal.
Players quickly rushed over to the Liverpool star but one player refrained from doing so.
Images shared online showed Luke Shaw showing his class after Alexander-Arnold made no mistake from the spot.
Image: Getty
Instead of sprinting over along with his teammates, the Manchester United defender’s first thought was to go over to the Swiss players and console the likes of Granit Xhaka and Akanji.
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According to the Daily Express, Shaw attempted to shake hands with as many opposition players as possible.
Image: X/@Jonny_Singer
He did then join the rest of the players and was seen embracing Pickford.
Having been out of action since February due to a hamstring injury, the Southampton youth product made his first appearance of Euro 2024 after entering the fray in the 78th minute.
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His selection for the tournament was seen as a major gamble by fans and many viewed it as a pointless call after he missed a number of training sessions and matches.
Image: Getty
But Shaw managed more than half an hour on Saturday and gave the team a new type of balance on the left side of the backline.
And Frank Lampard believes Shaw, scorer in the Euro 2020 final, will get the nod for the semi final.
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Speaking on BBC One, Lampard said: “If Luke Shaw is fit, he starts. He’s Gareth’s man. If he’s fit, I would play him for the balance of the team.”
BBC panel leaves the whole of England in disbelief after praising one player during Switzerland game (an)
Fans couldn’t believe what they were seeing
Fans have been left baffled while watching the BBC’s coverage of England vs Switzerland.
The Three Lions struggled in the quarter-final clash and fell behind after 75 minutes when Breel Embolo bundled home before Bukayo Saka levelled the score five minutes later with a stunning effort from distance.
Gareth Southgate made just one change to the team that beat Slovakia, with Ezri Konsa replacing the suspended Marc Guehi, with a slight change of system to allow Phil Foden to play more centrally.
Various reports in the media suggested Southgate would start with a three-man defence, with Saka playing at left wing-back, but it was Kieran Trippier who retained his place on the left of defence.
While the change to accommodate Foden led to the Man City man getting on the ball more, he was unable to make a significant difference to proceedings.
Nevertheless, the entire BBC panel of Gary Lineker, Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard and Micah Richards enthused over his first-half showing.
England fans however had other ideas and claimed the panellists must have be watching a different game, not at all impressed with Foden’s showing.
Here is how they reacted on social media:
Thoughts on Phil Foden's first half? 🤔#BBCEuros #Euro2024 #ENGSUI pic.twitter.com/5nWJSJrqqG
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 6, 2024
One fan said: “Not impressive at all.”
Another said: “Baffled by the praise at half time, he’s done nothing.”
A third added: “These 4 are watching a different game. It’s been awful.”
A fourth said: “He’s done about as much as me in that first half, and I’m sat at home.”
Roy Keane’s reaction to Jude Bellingham’s overhead kick vs Slovakia has gone viral (an)
Finally, a fifth fan added: “He’s been ok but that was bizarre coverage of him at half time.”
Phil Foden playing for England (Getty)
Commentating on the slight formation change, Foden admitted it would help bring the best out of his game.
He told the BBC before the game: “We changed formation to match what they do and get pressure up the field and to try retain the ball – let’s see if it works, I am looking forward to it.
“For me it will be I’ll be more centrally and staying inside. I think it will suit me a little bit better today.
“If we get the formation right and press right it will give us a lot of confidence.”
