‘Let’s leave everything on the field to elevate Portugal’s name high again’: Ronaldo eyes title defence at Euro 2020

Defending champions Portugal gear up to square off against Hungary to begin their Euro 2020 campaign on Tuesday. Cristiano Ronaldo is looking forward to leading his team in its search for a repeat triumph and recalled Portugal’s triumph in Euro 2016 ahead of the campaign opener. (Euro 2020 Full Coverage)

Ronaldo on Monday took to social media and wrote that the team will fight again to ‘elevate Portugal’s name high’. He also mentioned that the Portuguese fans, who are spread throughout the world, are with the team in their mission to defend their title.

“5 years ago we surprised Europe, winning for the first time a major international competition for Portugal. From this group of extraordinary players who wrote their name to gold letters in football history, there are only 11 left in this Euro 2020, but I know that all absentees are here with us too. Not only them, but millions of Portuguese spread throughout the world.

“We know you’re with the team, we feel your support, your shout and your belief! It’s for you that we enter the field, it’s for you that we sing the hymn, it’s for you that we fight for each point, for each victory and for each ball divided…” Ronaldo wrote.

“As title champions, we know that our responsibilities increase, and with them increases our will, delivery and selflessness. Let’s leave everything on the field to elevate Portugal’s name high again!” he added.

Ronaldo-led Portugal will enter the game without right-back Joao Cancelo who was ruled out of the tournament after testing positive for coronavirus. The team is set to take the field against Hungary in front of 68,000 fans in Budapest on Tuesday, in what would be their simplest game in a tough Group F which also has Germany and defending world champions, France.