Portugal’s
hopes of advancing to the round of 16 have one name, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Technically
that is two names, but you know what I mean. Today Portugal will be playing
their first “final” against USA and only a win will keep their hopes of
reaching the round of 16 alive. Portugal will be missing Rui Patricio (GK),
Coentrao (LB), Pepe (CD), Hugo Almeida (F), possibly Bruno Alves (CD) and Cristiano
Ronaldo is less than 100% fit for this match. This team is nowhere close to
maximum strength.
Cristiano
Ronaldo will play tomorrow, regardless of how fit he is, he will be on the
field. He wants to win and he wants to help his country advance. That is
admirable of him, but he will be doing it at what cost?
He has been
injured for some time now, and tendinitis requires rest, and that is something
he hasn’t had all year. He must feel like he is trapped between a rock and a
hard place. On one hand he has an injury and there is a fear of aggravating it
and causing a long term stoppage, on the other hand he knows he has a country
looking at him as the savior of the nation. He should do what is best for him,
but the coaching staff should do what is best for Portugal.
In my first
sentence I said that Portugal’s hopes of advancing rested on his shoulders, but
by no means was I implying that he should play. I think Portugal could be successful
without him on the field. He is currently a distraction for the team. Everyone
is asking about him and his injury and I am sure that all the players are
wondering about his fitness level as well. This is taking away the focus from
the game and going into this match everyone should be 100% focus.
Perhaps
Portugal could look at France and see that they have made due without Ribery
and there is no reason why Portugal couldn’t win the next two games without
Cristiano Ronaldo. They are missing key players, but the ones that will take
the field this afternoon should be able to get the result they need. What they
don’t need is a distraction or the feeling that without Cristiano we are
doomed. This is where the coaches come in, they need to make all players believe
in themselves and play as a team. If Ronaldo plays he would be just one more
piece to that team, but he is NOT the team. That should be reinforced and I don’t
think it is.
Portugal as
Argentina suffers from one player dependency. Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi have
become larger than the team, and when that happens it is very hard for a team
to play like a team, because everyone is looking at those guys to resolve the
match. This afternoon will be no different; all the players will be looking at
Ronaldo to be that difference. If he was healthy I believe he could be that
difference, since he has showed that he can be, time and time again, but the
Cristiano Ronaldo I saw against Germany is far from having a positive impact on
any game. His injury has made him a sideshow.
Tomorrow
will give us one of two Ronaldo’s. He will both take the game by storm and
resolve it for Portugal or he is not able to play at his level and will make
his team play with 10 men while having him on the field. The coach should see
which one he gets, and if the second one shows up he should sub him for his
sake and the sake of the team.
Cristiano
Ronaldo will walk on the field tomorrow and somehow I feel that for him it is a
no win situation regardless of what the outcome is.
0 comments :
Post a comment