In a decisive prelude to the European Championship in Germany, Cristiano Ronaldo demonstrated his prowess by scoring twice as Portugal clinched a commanding 3-0 triumph against Ireland on Tuesday.
The seasoned 39-year-old forward’s striking performance was pivotal as Roberto Martinez’s squad fine-tuned their strategy at the Aveiro Municipal Stadium, situated south of Porto.
Portugal's offensive momentum commenced with Joao Felix’s goal, which set the stage for Ronaldo's impactful contribution in the second half.
Ronaldo, who opted out of participation in last week's friendly encounters against Finland and Croatia, exhibited his determination by narrowly missing a free kick opportunity, striking the post in the 22nd minute. However, he swiftly rebounded, netting goals in the 50th and 60th minutes, sealing Portugal’s victory.
With the upcoming fixture against the Czech Republic scheduled for next Tuesday in Leipzig, Portugal is poised to navigate through a challenging Group F, which also includes matches against Turkey and Georgia.
