Slovakia goalkeeper Martin Dubravka has revealed that he got lucky after a recent collision with Cristiano Ronaldo.
As the Portuguese forward was going for a loose ball in a Euro 2024 qualifier, he caught Dubravka in several spots.
After avoiding a red card through a VAR check, Ronaldo was relieved to see Dubravka get up.
Post-game, Newcastle goalkeeper Dubravka said of where he was caught: In the shoulder, the neck and the chest.
I just closed my eyes and prayed that he [Ronaldo] wouldn't hit me in the face as well. When I saw his studs coming at me, I didn't even look."
He added: These are situations when the goalkeeper closes his eyes and tries only to block the shot, and he, as a striker, has to go after such a ball. I don't blame him. It's sport, it's football.
Situations like this belong to it. Of course, he realized he hit me. He asked me if I was OK. I take it sportingly.'
I try to keep a clear head in these situations. It is a contact sport. Today, when we have VAR at our disposal. There is no point in getting into it."
