Iceland defender Kari Arnason has labelled Cristiano Ronaldo a “sore loser” and told him it was “tough s**t” that Portugal were held to a draw.
Birkir Bjarnason’s second-half strike stole side a 1-1 draw in his nation’s first-ever European Championship game – a remarkable feat for a nation of just 330,000 people.
Former Plymouth Argyle and Rotherham United centre-back Arnason successfully shackled Portugal’s skipper, who vented his frustration to reporters after the final whistle.
“Iceland only tried to defend,” complained Ronaldo. “They had two chances and then did not try to score.
“They celebrated like they had won the Euro cup or something. That’s a small mentality. That’s why they’ll do nothing.”
” Iceland only tried to defend,” he said. “They had two chances and then did not try to score.
“They celebrated like they had won the Euro cup or something. That’s a small mentality. That’s why they’ll do nothing.”
But when those comments were put to Arnason he delighted in having so successfully riled the £300,000-per-week Ronaldo.
“It makes it even sweeter when he’s a sore loser like that,” said the 33- year-old defender.
“I mean, he can say whatever he wants. He didn’t really get a chance today, he got one and he couldn’t put it away. What can I say? Sore loser. Tough s**t.”
Ronaldo, 31, struggled to make a big impact on the game and despite having ten efforts on goal he only hit the target once in a frustrating game for the recently-crowned Champions League winner.
“He had a header in the final minutes of the game and a chance in the first half but otherwise I thought we had him under control,” Arnason continued.
“We didn’t set up to man mark him or anything, we just had to know where he was at any given moment and that he will shoot from outside the box and that everything has to be blocked.
“He’s a fantastic footballer but he’s not a gracious human being and the thing is we almost nicked the win so him saying we weren’t going for the win contradicts that.
“We got a draw and could have nicked it. Obviously we’re not going to create as much chances as a fantastic team like Portugal but his comments are the reason why Messi is always going to be one step ahead of him.
“It shows we got under his skin. It was lovely to hear that.”
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