LVIV, Ukraine: After the final whistle, Cristiano Ronaldo strode abruptly off the field, pulling off his captain's armband and brushing aside his coach.
While other Portuguese players stayed on to salute their fans after a 1-0 loss to Germany at Arena Lviv on Saturday, Ronaldo was already way down the tunnel.
Miserable and inconsolable, the world's most expensive player was the picture of frustration after his first match at this year's European Championship.
Subdued for all but a handful of dazzling moments in a game that had few, Ronaldo mostly failed to provide the spark he has often produced for Real Madrid.
"No games go perfectly," Ronaldo said. "I'd have liked to have had more possession but it just wasn't possible."
That absence of possession as the German defense efficiently closed him down may go some way to explaining Ronaldo's apparent rage in the final minutes of the match as Portugal battled for an equalizer. Ronaldo set up three chances, but none went in.
Ronaldo prowled down the left flank but often was left rolling his eyes, blowing his cheeks and looking skywards as he was starved of possession.
In the last minute, Ronaldo approached his team bench to ask for water. None of the staff got up to offer him some. Ronaldo shouted in anger, gesticulated and, when he was given a bottle, stood drinking with his hands on his hips, shaking his head. (AP/TW)
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