Deep down, Ronaldo playing for Portugal is protecting many players from criticism they truly deserve, but when criticism comes, they put everything on him. Once he retires, they will face the pressure
What if Portugal played like Argentina?
They have enough quality in midfield to do it and enough athleticism from their full-backs to sustain it.
One can only dream...
You have
Joao Neves, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Vitinha, Cancelo, Nuno Mendes
Players you can afford & encourage small distances between because the football they’d generate in proximity would naturally open up huge space beyond them(which these space oriented coaches love)
I wish I could stop complaining about it but watching this World Cup and the style of play (so far) Eric Chelle and Nigeria would’ve had been entertaining as hell.
It’s a shame, what a talented country on and off the pitch, no structure, just prayer and shortsightedness.
Comparing Spain and Germany’s approach in their opening games shows such a clear difference in style.
De La Fuente prioritising wide triangles, rotations, counter movements, half space underlaps.
Nagelsmann priming central combination play, pass and move, 1-2s, flicks etc.
Marsch needs to use a Jonathan David-Larin front 2 in the next match. Canada looked so much better with Larin’s presence in the box. Would like see Alphonso Davies then used at left midfield of the 4-4-2, getting crosses in which Larin showed he can make use of in his sub cameo.
Garry Lineker will not be the first person that will say Messi is better than Ronaldo but he thinks Ronaldo doesn't like him anymore because he said that
Listen to Lineker....
"The fact that Cristiano Ronaldo is being compared to Lionel Messi is a huge compliment to him"
You are talking about a Cristiano that conquered three different leagues, a man with five Ballon d'Ors, Mr Champions League, the world's best and greatest goal scorer
And you sit down and said it's a huge compliment to Ronaldo to be compared to Messi
Does he think he is talking about Ronaldo Delima or Iniesta or Eto'o, Lewandoski or Zidane or just any other player?
It's an insult on Ronaldo to alter such a statement!
A very disrespect at that.. You won't say that in the media and I will ever like you because you are washing down all I have done in the game
Where Lineker even cap so badly is saying Ronaldo doesn't have Messi's ability.....
Does Lineker understands what ability is at all or he is fixated on one side of the game
This is why people think or say that Ronaldo is not talented but a result of hard work
SMH
Quite an appalling showing from south africa, unfortunately that’s their world cup finished on MD1. Nothing about them that shows they could compete with the other 2 in their group. I anticipated an awful group for South Korea but South Africa have topped it.
The fact that the "Ronaldo is holding Portugal back" narrative is as strong and as widespread as they are - even among supposed "neutrals" - after Ronaldo led Portugal to win the UNL just last summer in the exceptional manner he did - That is enough to tell you it's all hate-based. No genuine analysis and reasoning whatsoever.
Note:
Even sitting aside mind the pre-match hype and post-match reactions, if you watch the intensity and precision with which, say, Spain played in the UNL final last year and think (or convince yourself to think) "glorified friendly", you're far beyond help.