BY GRAHAM DUNBAR
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — No one does high drama in international soccer to such an operatic extent as Cristiano Ronaldo.
Portugal is heading to a blockbuster quarterfinal with France at the European Championship after its star captain generated compelling viewing on center stage of the victory over Slovenia on Monday.
Winning a penalty shootout 3-0 after a 0-0 game against the 57th-ranked team in world soccer might not sound much.
But there were tears, lots of them, from Ronaldo; an apology in prayer-form to his fans, who responded with adulation; extravagant arm gestures of anger, frustration and exasperation; chances wasted and denied to make more tournament history; a renewed duel with an old rival goalkeeper; and ultimately redemption and victory.
Ronaldo’s mother was in the stadium and TV pictures showed her crying, too, after he missed his penalty.
“Sometimes it’s hard and difficult to score penalties,” Ronaldo
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