Portugal’s Euro 2024 preparations were disrupted when fans stormed the pitch during a training session, involving Diogo Jota and Cristiano Ronaldo

Diogo Jota and the Portugal team experienced a disruption in their Euro 2024 preparations when fans invaded the pitch during an open training session.

Roberto Martinez’s squad, considered one of the favorites to win the European Championship in Germany this summer, is scheduled to play their first match against the Czech Republic in Leipzig on Tuesday night.

Ahead of their opening match, fans were invited to watch the team train at their tournament base in Westphalia. While 6,000 complimentary tickets were distributed for the session, an estimated 8,000 supporters reportedly attended.

The event descended into chaos as approximately 12 fans stormed the pitch, eliciting boos from the crowd. Unsurprisingly, Cristiano Ronaldo was the primary target of the pitch invaders.

Security personnel quickly pursued the intruders, trying to remove them, though some managed to evade capture. Ronaldo even posed for a selfie with one fan before they were escorted away, after which he called for calm.

In an unexpected twist, Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa took it upon himself to tackle one fan to the ground, sprinting halfway across the pitch to do so.

When the session resumed, Liverpool striker Diogo Jota was playfully booed by fans after knocking Ronaldo to the ground while competing for the ball. At the end of the training, the Portugal team displayed a banner reading ‘Thank you, Germany’ in both Portuguese and German.

Liverpool.com comments on the enduring Ronaldo mania, even as he reaches the latter stages of his career. It remains to be seen what role he will play at the Euros.

Portugal is considered one of the favorites, but there will inevitably be significant attention on Ronaldo. The team has often performed better without him in recent times, but it would take a courageous coach to drop him and face the backlash from his superfans.

Jota is one of the players who could replace him, although the Liverpool star may have to wait for his chance at the tournament.