Dirty TackleGerman fans used Messi chant outside Portugal’s hotel before (and during) win
Germany beat Portugal 1-0 in their Euro 2012 opener on Saturday, frustrating Cristiano Ronaldo in the process -- something the German fans tried to lay the seeds for well before the match even started.
From Marca:
In the hours leading up to the big game between Germany and Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo is once again the focus of attention. Around thirty German supporters gathered at the hotel where the Portuguese team is staying in order to voice the now famous chant "Messi, Messi, Messi" with the aim of winding up the Portuguese star.
The chants and taunts aimed at Cristiano Ronaldo were repeated throughout the game from the stands in which the clear majority were German fans [12,000 to 5,000]. There were significantly more German supporters in the stadium as the distance between Berlin and Lviv, where the game was played, is only 929 Km.
Bosnian fans gave Ronaldo the "Messi" treatment at the airport before their team's Euro 12 playoff. It didn't work at all, but it seems it did give other countries an idea that might follow Cristiano through the tournament, as it does when he plays at the club level in Spain.
Speaking of Messi, while Portugal struggled, he produced the highlight of the day in a friendly against Brazil a continent away.
