Should Ronaldo Be Benched? Arsenal Legend Paul Merson’s Bold Take on Portugal’s Euro 2024 Strategy

Arsenal icon Paul Merson advises Portugal manager Roberto Martinez to bench Cristiano Ronaldo at Euro 2024 due to the lower competitive standards of the Saudi Arabian league. Merson suggests a cautious approach, integrating Ronaldo only if necessary after initial group stages. As Euro 2024 approaches, football fans are buzzing with anticipation. Among the favorites to win, Portugal’s squad decisions are under intense scrutiny, particularly regarding their legendary captain, Cristiano Ronaldo. Two decades after his European Championship debut, Ronaldo remains a central figure for his national team. However, Arsenal legend Paul Merson has a controversial take: he believes Portugal should bench Ronaldo for the initial stages of the tournament.

Ronaldo’s storied career has seen remarkable highs, including leading Portugal to victory in the 2016 European Championship. Despite an injury forcing him out of the final, his leadership and influence were pivotal. Fast forward to the 2022 World Cup, and Ronaldo’s performance was less inspiring. Falling out of favor at Manchester United and transitioning to the Saudi Arabian league, Ronaldo’s form has been questioned.

Paul Merson argues that playing in Saudi Arabia, a league with a significantly lower competitive standard, makes Ronaldo a risky choice for Portugal in a high-stakes tournament like Euro 2024. Merson’s recommendation is clear: start without Ronaldo.

“Portugal are an aging team but they have a lot of experience within the squad,” Merson states. “There’s too much individual quality for them not to gel together as a unit, so I think they’ll fare quite well at Euro 2024. With Pepe and Ruben Dias at the back, they are defensively strong and there is a lot of guile in midfield, while they are blessed with devastating pace and goals upfront.”

The former Arsenal midfielder emphasizes the strength of Portugal’s squad, pointing out the defensive prowess of Pepe and Ruben Dias, the midfield creativity of Bruno Fernandes, and the attacking flair present in the team. Despite Ronaldo’s goal-scoring feats in Saudi Arabia, Merson believes his inclusion should be strategic and conditional.

“I would personally leave him out of the first two league games and get qualification sorted before bringing him back for the final encounter,” Merson suggests. “If he plays well, he can keep his spot and that’s the right way to go about it as it’s a massive jump for someone to come into the European Championships after playing at such a lesser standard in Saudi.”

Merson’s pragmatic approach involves using Ronaldo’s experience and skill selectively, ensuring that the team’s initial performance is not hampered by adjusting to a player coming from a different competitive environment. This strategy could also allow Ronaldo to adapt to the team’s dynamics and the tournament’s pace.

The debate around Ronaldo’s role is likely to continue among fans and analysts. With Portugal’s hopes high for Euro 2024, the decision on Ronaldo’s participation could be crucial. Will Roberto Martinez heed Merson’s advice, or will Ronaldo’s legendary status and recent goal-scoring form in Saudi Arabia secure his spot in the starting lineup? The football world watches with bated breath.