Futre: Cristiano Ronaldo will silence critics against Netherlands

The retired winger believes that the Real Madrid ace will be at his best level against Oranje, while saying that his compatriot is used to playing under pressure

Former Portugal international Paulo Futre thinks that Cristiano Ronaldo will rise to the challenge and live up to his hype in Sunday's crucial Euro 2012 match against Netherlands.

Luis Mira  Portugal Expert

This is quite a bold statement from Futre, who expects Ronaldo to fire his country to the quarter-finals after turning in two disastrous displays in the last two matches. In the Euro 2012 qualification play-offs against Bosnia-Herzegovina, Ronaldo put in a great performance to inspire the Seleccao to a 6-2 victory. But with so much pressure on him right now, questions remain about whether the 27-year-old will be able to shine, as he usually tends to be anonymous in the big games.

The 27-year-old has so far failed to replicate for the Seleccao at the Euros the goal-scoring form which saw him net a stunning 60 goals in all competitions for Real Madrid during the course of the 2011-12 season.

He has been the target of much criticism for his performances against Germany and Denmark, but Futre thinks that his compatriot will prove his doubters wrong against the Dutch.

"I have a lot of faith that Cristiano Ronaldo will make amends for his previous poor displays when he faces Netherlands," the 46-year-old told Record.

"No one better than Cristiano knows that at this Euros, like it has happened in other moments, the spotlight will be on him.

"And I am sure that he also knew that with every failure, more criticism would come.

"But this is something normal to him, he is used to this."

Portugal lie in third position in the Group B standings, level on points with second-placed Denmark.