Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has suggested that a combination of fitness and being played away from his 'favourite position' contributed to his below-par performance in Tuesday's 1-1 draw with Iceland.
Iceland, playing in their first ever senior international tournament, fell behind to Nani's close range finish early on, but hit back after half-time through Birkir Bjarnason and held on for a deserved draw.
Over the 90 minutes Ronaldo had 10 shots at goal, more than the total tally managed by nine of the 24 teams in their opening games at the tournament, but his only effort on target was a close range header that was saved by goalkeeper Hannes Thor Halldorsson.
And after the game Ronaldo ungraciously criticised the "small mentality" of the Icelanders and reportedly did not shake hands with any opponent as he left the field.
The Real Madrid star came into the tournament amid concerns over his fitness, having ended the club season looking drained and hampered by muscle problems, while even Portugal national coach Fernando Santos admitted that it was unreasonable to expect Ronaldo to be 100 percent fit at this stage of the campaign.
Speaking to Marca's reporter in the mixed zone at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in Saint-Etienne, Ronaldo said that his physical condition was okay, but has room for improvement.
"I am fine, I feel fine," Ronaldo said. "Obviously it is just my second game since the Champions League final, but I know I will get better from game to game."
Santos played Ronaldo as a centre-forward in a 4-4-2 shape, a tactical plan which Madrid coaches including Carlo Ancelotti and Rafa Benitez had previously tried, before quickly moving the superstar back to his favoured position roaming from the left wing.
Asked if playing right up front had hampered his ability to hurt the Icelandic defence, Ronaldo suggested he would have preferred to be played wide but had been following instructions.
"I don't know if it is my favourite position, but it is where the coach puts me," Ronaldo said. "I like more to arrive from the wing to the centre, but I have the freedom to go where I want. I will have to get used to it."