Portuguese captain Cristiano Ronaldo confessed to being a broken man on Wednesday after his side’s 1-0 defeat to Iberian rivals Spain in their World Cup Last 16 match on Tuesday.
The 25-year-old Real Madrid star – who once again failed to live up to his club form for his country at a major championships – said he felt a deep sadness at the exit at the hands of the European champions, who progressed to a quarter-final meeting with Paraguay thanks to David Villa’s fourth goal of the tournament.
“I feel a broken man, completely disconsolate, frustrated and an unimaginable sadness,” he said in a statement released on the website of Gestifute, which is owned by his agent.
Ronaldo, whose side failed to score in three of their four matches save a 7-0 humbling of North Korea where he ended his near two year goal drought, also denied he insulted coach Carlos Queiroz.
He refused to answer questions save to remark to a TV crew ‘How can I explain it (the defeat)? Ask the question of Carlos Queiroz’.
Ronaldo, who ended up trophyless at Real Madrid last season after his 94million euros transfer from Manchester United, was roundly criticised for that and for not assuming his responsibilities as the national captain.
“When I said put the question to the coach, it is just because Carlos Queiroz was holding a press conference,” said Ronaldo, the 2008 World Footballer of the Year.
“I was not in a position to explain what was what. I am a human being, and like any human being I suffer and I have the right to suffer alone.
“I know that I am the captain, and I have always assumed and will assume my responsibilities.”
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Fifa chief warns French president
Fifa president Sepp Blatter has warned France may be banned from international football if its government interferes in the running of the national side.
Blatter said he was sending a "clear and clean message" to French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who criticised the team after a dismal World Cup campaign.
Sarkozy has pledged to personally lead an investigation into what went wrong.
But Blatter insisted the governing body would oppose "political interference, even if it is at presidential level."
Les Bleus finished bottom of their World Cup group and were plagued by problems on and off the pitch.
Forward Nicolas Anelka was sent home after refusing to apologise for verbally abusing coach Raymond Domenech, whose six-year reign ended with France's exit.
If it cannot be solved by consultation, then the only thing we have is to suspend the federation
Fifa president Sepp Blatter
The rest of the squad then boycotted a training session in protest, and captain Fabrice Evra was involved in a row with fitness coach Robert Duverne.
Sarkozy has called for change within the French Football Federation (FFF), and during the tournament in South Africa he asked his sports minister Roselyne Bachelot to speak to the players, leaving them in no doubt about his view of their conduct.
Since the squad's return to France, Sarkozy has held talks with striker and former captain Thierry Henry, while Jean-Louis Valentin has resigned as FFF president.
The FFF has issued an apology to the French public and been savaged by the media, but Blatter is adamant that interference from governments in its affairs will not be tolerated.
"In France they have made an 'affair d'etat' with football, but football remains in the hands of the federation," said Blatter.
"We will help the national association and if it cannot be solved by consultation, then the only thing we have is to suspend the federation.
"Definitely, I can tell you that political interference will be dealt with by Fifa notwithstanding what kind of interference and what is the size of the country."
Fifa rules demand that national federations manage their affairs independently or face suspension from international football.
Story from BBC SPORT:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8771693.stm
Published: 2010/06/29 10:29:19 GMT
© BBC MMX
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