Football
John Brewin, ESPN FC 8y

Portugal boss calls for more shots from Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Poland

MARSEILLE, France -- Portugal need Cristiano Ronaldo to take more than one shot in their Euro 2016 quarterfinal clash with Poland on Thursday, manager Fernando Santos has admitted. 

The Real Madrid star managed just a single attempt in Portugal's 1-0 round-of-16 last-gasp victory against Croatia on Saturday in Lens. But Santos asserted his team must continue the improvement in defending they produced in the match, as their final group-stage match had been a chaotic 3-3 draw with Hungary.

"We want to strike a balance," Santos told a prematch news conference on Wednesday. "We would rather have Cristiano shoot 15 times and score 10 goals. But our opponents won't let us and that is the game. In training and in games it is important every player plays their role."

Ronaldo was quiet against Croatia, and failed to add to his two goals at the competition but supplied the assist for Ricardo Quaresma's 117th minute winner. He enters Thursday's quarterfinal a single strike short of equalling France legend Michel Platini's all-time European Championship mark of nine.

"Everybody talks about him and there is a reason for that," said Santos. "Why? Because he is an amazing player, very, very good. People only talk about great players."

Santos added: "There are hundreds of players here and we do not talk about them every day. It is normal to talk about Ronaldo, [Poland striker Robert] Lewandowski and [Germany goalkeeper Manuel] Neuer. They are amazing players. It is natural some are mentioned more than others, but we all know how to deal with that."

Midfielder Adrien Silva acknowledged Ronaldo's worth as teammate and captain, saying: "It is true that Ronaldo is very important for us. It is no use beating about the bush. But he is here with us, he has been in form, he scored but he also plays for the team, he is our captain and an amazing player. We should focus on the fact he is here with us."

Silva also admitted Portugal will be wary of Lewandowski, Poland's star man and captain, but said: "I don't think a single player can sort out every single thing. The only way we can cancel out a player is to be committed and work as a team."

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