Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal have qualified for the Euros in Germany next summer
With a 3-2 win over Martin Dubravka and Slovakia on Friday night, they are now assured to finish first and second in Group J, with both positions granting automatic participation to the finals.
Slovakia was unlucky to lose after putting in a fantastic effort, but it was not as difficult for the Newcastle United player this time.
Cristiano Ronaldo should have been sent off last month for a reckless lunge that saved Martin Dubravka’s life (see image above). The referee only gave a yellow card, most doubt because of who committed the ludicrous foul; most other players would have been sent off for doing so.
Cristiano Ronaldo continued on the field that night as Portugal triumphed 1-0 away to Slovakia, and the deciding strike was once again from the former Manchester United player, this time a penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo, his second goal of the game.
Slovakia and Martin Dubraka, on the other hand, are still very much in control of their own destiny, as the latest Group J table reveals
A win away at Luxembourg on Monday would very certainly give Slovakia, along with Portugal, automatic qualification for the Euros in Germany next year.
While his chances at Newcastle United have been slim with Nick Pope in such fine form, Martin Dubravka has thrived for his country. If you exclude the two defeats to Portugal, the NUFC goalie has maintained eight clean sheets in his last ten starts for Slovakia.
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