Dubravka on the Ronaldo episode: "I just closed my eyes and prayed"

Slovakia's goalkeeper Martin Dubravka shared his thoughts on the episode with Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo. In the 62nd minute of the Euro 2024 qualifier, Ronaldo flew into the Slovak goalkeeper in a dangerous tackle.

"In the shoulders, neck and chest. I just closed my eyes and prayed that he wouldn't hit me in the face. When I saw his spikes moving towards me, I closed my eyes. This is a situation where the goalkeeper closes his eyes and tries to block the shot, and he, as a striker, has to go after such a ball. I don't blame him. This is sport, this is football. Of course, he realised that he had hit me. He asked me if I was okay," Dubravka said in a post-match interview.

It is worth noting that Ronaldo received a yellow card for his flagrant foul, which will not allow him to play in the next qualifying match against Luxembourg.