Cristiano Ronaldo’s showboating in Portugal’s defeat by Germany slammed by Didi Hamann

Cristiano Ronaldo’s jaw-dropping piece of showboating in Portugal’s defeat by Germany made him ‘look the fool’, claims Didier Hamann – who accuses the superstar’s flick of ‘belittling’ his opponents

Didi Hamann has insisted Cristiano Ronaldo’s audacious piece of showboating in Portugal’s defeat by Germany at Euro 2020 made him look like a ‘fool’. 

Ronaldo, who netted the first goal of the clash but later found himself on the losing side, caught the eye with a jaw-dropping moment of tricky when looping the ball over the head of Antonio Rudiger.

But Hamann believes the motion, which quickly sparked pandemonium on social media, simply spurred Germany on to win the heavyweight clash.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been slammed by Didi Hamann for a piece of skill in the loss by Germany

Portugal talisman Ronaldo flicked the ball over Antonio Rudiger with his team ahead by a goal

Portugal talisman Ronaldo flicked the ball over Antonio Rudiger with his team ahead by a goal 

A clearly confident Ronaldo managed to hold off defender Rudiger with Portugal leading by one goal, and deftly chipped the ball into the air before spinning quickly to control it.

In a move which caused spectators to wince, Ronaldo then stuck out his arms, as if he was pretending to catch the ball, and rounded off the humiliation by pulling off an inch-perfect no-look back-flick. 

Hamann, however, failed to see the magic and instead took aim at the mercurial superstar, telling RTE: ‘I think it’s nonsense. He flicks the ball over, pretends he is going to catch it and back-heels it across, and looks away.

Hamann believes Ronaldo's audacious motion made him look like a 'fool' due to the final result

Hamann believes Ronaldo’s audacious motion made him look like a ‘fool’ due to the final result

‘Of course it is [amazing] and we know he can do that. I think, in a way he’s belittling the opposition.

‘This is at 1-0 and I’m sitting here while you all rave about it. Yes, he is the best, with Messi. He looks a fool now. This is 1-0. He does look the fool.

‘If you ask the German players, they’ll tell you now what they thought of it. They would have noticed that.

‘I tell you now, all of them will say it may have given us an extra bit of whatever to change things.

Ronaldo netted his third goal of the tournament after rounding off a fine Portugal breakaway

Ronaldo netted his third goal of the tournament after rounding off a fine Portugal breakaway

‘What is he trying to achieve? Maybe this [Germany comeback] is where it all started.’

Ronaldo netted his third goal of the tournament to finish a lightning counter-attack from Portugal, but was unable to prevent his team from capitulating in Munich.

Two own goals, with Ruben Dias and Raphael Guerreiro the unfortunate players, put Germany in front – leaving their opponents reeling as both nations scrapped for crucial points in the ‘Group of Death’.

Kai Havertz tucked home Germany's third goal as they came from behind to take the victory

Kai Havertz tucked home Germany’s third goal as they came from behind to take the victory

Robin Gosens (left) hit the fourth for the home nation after arriving at the back post to head in

Robin Gosens (left) hit the fourth for the home nation after arriving at the back post to head in

Kai Havertz then tucked home after yet another flowing move shortly after the second-half restart, and Robin Gosens put the result beyond doubt after arriving at the far post to score the fourth. 

A consolation arrived late on for Portugal when Diogo Jota netted, but the state of Group F is poised on a knife edge heading into the final round of fixtures.

Portugal take on France, who top the group by a point, in Budapest – and Germany welcome Hungary at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday.

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