‘He didn’t behave himself like a great player should’ – Eamon Dunphy serves up a damning verdict on Cristiano Ronaldo
Dunphy spoke to Joe Molloy on the Indo Sport podcast after Ireland’s 2-0 World Cup qualifying win against Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo shows his frustration at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
Eamon Dunphy famously dismissed Cristiano Ronaldo as ‘a cod’ in his formative days at Manchester United and now he has launched a fresh attack on the Portugal captain after he was sent off at the Aviva Stadium on Thursday night.
While that dismissive comment came back to haunt Dunphy as Ronaldo went on to become an iconic giant of the sport, the 40-year-old was powerless to stop Ireland recording a famous 2-0 win to keep their World Cup qualifying hopes alive heading into what is now a crunch clash against Hungary in Budapest on Sunday.
Ronaldo will miss his nation’s final qualifier against Armenia due to suspension after he was shown a red card for an elbow on Dara O’Shea after 61 minutes, with Dunphy suggesting his poor attitude was in evidence before he took to the field to face a rejuvenated Ireland.
“He definitely didn’t play very well and he didn’t behave himself like a great player should,” Dunphy told the Indo Sport podcast.
“He’s 40 years of age now and that was a very immature performance. It didn’t help his team in the end, but 50,000 people will be able to say they were there on the night Ronaldo was sent off because it’s the first time he has been sent off for the national team.
“When they were lining up to leave the tunnel at the beginning of the match, he was kinda jokey and it didn’t look like it was a big important game, which it was for them.
“He is one of the greatest players in the history of the game, but you don’t carry any of the publicity and glory onto the pitch. Every match is a new match and you have to start with the right attitude and he didn’t. The sending off was a culmination of that.
“That’s what was disappointing about Ronaldo. He was their captain, he was their leader and he didn’t look up for it from the moment he walked on the pitch.”
Dunphy also gave his verdict on what happens next for Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson, who was widely expected to leave his post after Sunday’s final World Cup qualifier in Hungary.
The mood has changed against the Icelandic coach after he oversaw one of the great Ireland qualifying victories, with Dunphy suggesting the final decision on Hallgrimsson’s future is still on ice.
“It probably depends on what happens next,” he added. “It’s obvious to look back and see the mistakes he’s made. Not playing Troy Parrott as much as he should have done, leaving Séamus Coleman out of the squad and things like that.
“If he qualifies us for the World Cup, give him a ten-year contract! People will be so happy.
“I don’t know what’s going to happy next, but if we qualify for the World Cup or even get to the play-offs, his future could be much brighter than it was yesterday.”
