WORLD CUP
BRAZIL | JUNE 12 - JULY 13, 2014
PINNING
HOPES ON
RONALDO
T
he question facing Portugal at the Word Cup is plain: Can
Cristiano Ronaldo do for his country what Diego Maradona did
for Argentina at the 1986 tournament?
Argentina went to Mexico 28 years ago with a solid team,
but it was Maradona who made the South Americans special
as he lifted them to the World Cup title with some electrifying
performances and sensational goals.
Ronaldo also sprinkles magic dust onto a Portugal team
that can assemble talent from Europe’s top flight but which
without him lacks that extra edge.
The 2013 FIFA world player of the year’s stupendous
performances against Sweden in the World Cup playoffs
were a case in point. He got all four of Portugal's goals over two
legs, including a hat trick in the return leg in Sweden as the
Portuguese qualified with a 4-2 aggregate win.
In those games, Ronaldo produced the kind of explosive bursts
of speed and close ball skills that have made him great.
“He is a huge influence in the team and our decisive player,”
Portugal coach Paulo Bento said.
Calling Portugal a one-man team is uncharitable, Bento said.
But subtract Ronaldo from the equation and the team can look
ordinary, possessing no game-changing heavyweights.
After promising much, Manchester United winger Nani has
faded in recent injury-struck seasons, while Joao Moutinho and
Raul Meireles are worthy but unspectacular midfield players. The
squad also lacks a show-stopping center forward and possesses
little depth.
That’s a far cry from the caliber of the 1990s Golden
Generation, led by 2001 world player of the year Luis Figo. But
the generations have one thing in common: neither has won any
silverware.
These days, it is hard to overstate the inspiring role Ronaldo
plays for Portugal.
When an ankle injury kept Ronaldo out of his country’s first
two qualifying games for the 2012 European Championship,
Portugal drew at home against Cyprus and lost to Norway. When
he returned, Portugal racked up a five-game winning streak that
put it back in contention.
In qualifying for the 2010 World Cup, Ronaldo was played out
of position and didn’t score a single goal for his country in the
campaign, which featured a run of three 0-0 draws, two of them
at home, consigning Portugal to the playoffs.
After 11 years in the national team, Ronaldo is his country’s
all-time top scorer with 49 goals, two more than previous recordholder Pauleta, who is now retired.
In Brazil, he could become the first Portuguese player to score
at three different World Cups. THE GAME
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t h e g a m e sports magazine