You wouldn't put it past Ronaldo to drag Portugal to World Cup glory. If any player could singlehandedly inspire their team to such heights it's him.

Rest of the portugal team is just fluff. If not anyone else, the german machine will be impossible to get past.

So this guy Guedes? Was very unsure on a couple of early breaks, first not releasing Ronaldo, and then fumbling the pass from Ronaldo at the end of a second break. Thoughts on his overall performance?

Claudius wrote:

So this guy Guedes? Was very unsure on a couple of early breaks, first not releasing Ronaldo, and then fumbling the pass from Ronaldo at the end of a second break. Thoughts on his overall performance?

Really disappointing game by him. 

He'd shown up in pre-World Cup friendlies, but that was an abysmal showing. 

Was disappointed with Portugal across the board bar Ronaldo. Can't think of another player who showed much, maybe Querasma who was lively coming on late. I'd imagine he'll start ahead of Guedes next game. 

Not sure if it's tactics or Spain's possession, but Portugal's midfield was non-existant. I'd hope that showing (alone) convinces everyone Carvalho is not what we need, particularly next to Xhaka.

That was great fun.

I'm laughing as much at De Gea as I am in awe of Cristiano Ronaldo. What a player (and I definitely do not mean the Spaniard!). Isco was also class, as was Costa.

Great game, absolute classic.

Ronaldo is the stuff of legends. He is simply extra. I don't care how much skill you have, how many passes you make, when you couple natural ability with physical prowess and, most importantly, such sheer force of will...that's what sport is about for me.

He's easy to hate in so many ways, but I love watching this guy play football.

Over to you, Messi.

This is the best start to the world Cup since 2006.

Coombs wrote:

I don't care how much skill you have, how many passes you make, when you couple natural ability with physical prowess and, most importantly, such sheer force of will...that's what sport is about for me.

I actually think having him and Messi playing at the same time has made me appreciate each (individually) more. When I watch Messi I'm left in awe in what he can do with the ball and to make the most of his stature. When you watch Ronaldo, you're left in awe at what he's made himself into be (stature/physical wise) and that he's matched that with a will to score/win. 

RC8 wrote:

Portugal got really lucky. Spain should have had one more and 2 of their goals came from extremely soft 'fouls'.

Credit to Ronaldo for stepping up to the occasion.

Spain were lucky Portugal didn't score on the break.

It almost felt Ronaldo was playing for the history books there.

That was also the first time in a long time a big player actually stepped up in a World Cup game.

goon wrote:

I can’t stand Ronaldo but it’s always good to see big players doing big things in major tournaments.

This..   loathe him, but scoring a hat trick against a pretty good Spanish side in the dying minutes to snatch a draw is good stuff...

USArsenal wrote:

goon wrote:

I can’t stand Ronaldo but it’s always good to see big players doing big things in major tournaments.

This..   loathe him, but scoring a hat trick against a pretty good Spanish side in the dying minutes to snatch a draw is good stuff...

I like Ronaldo. Great character and great player.

I don't like the diving, but I find it humbling that an already hugely talented player pushes himself still further.

Tony Montana wrote:

USArsenal wrote:

This..   loathe him, but scoring a hat trick against a pretty good Spanish side in the dying minutes to snatch a draw is good stuff...

I like Ronaldo. Great character and great player.

What about his character is likeable?

jones wrote:

Tony Montana wrote:

I like Ronaldo. Great character and great player.

What about his character is likeable?

Fight, passion, determination, style, confidence and hard working nature.

He might not be as quiet or "humble" as Messi but he's just as likeable to me.

There's being not very humble and then there's this

I don’t see anyone better than me. No player does things that I cannot do myself, but I see things others can’t do. There’s no more complete player than me. I’m the best player in history — in the good and the bad moments.

Well at least he has some stats and the titles to back up that claim, it's not as if he wold not be considered.

I don't mind him at all, seems eccentric more than anything else.

He also said the following in the same interview

However, Ronaldo also took time to thank the people who helped him reach the summit of the world's most competitive sport, including his former Manchester United teammates:

Ryan GiggsRoy KeaneRio Ferdinand

"Since I was 14, 15 or 16 years old I knew that I was different from other kids," Ronaldo said.

"I did different things. I realised that I was good at Manchester United, when I played with players like Giggs, Keane or Ferdinand. I had talent. The English mentality is different and those people helped me a lot to be what I am now. I have to thank my colleagues in Manchester."

I don't think stats titles or anything else can back that claim up. I don't even think anyone except for himself would think of him talking about the most complete attacker around, actually I'm pretty sure most would think of someone else.

Tony Montana wrote:

jones wrote:

What about his character is likeable?

Fight, passion, determination, style, confidence and hard working nature.

He might not be as quiet or "humble" as Messi but he's just as likeable to me.

I've disliked CRonaldo's from his manu dives against us.

Credit due as he was amazing against Spain but no way more likeable to me.
It's also impressive how he continually improved his diving technique over the years.

Bold Tone wrote:

Tony Montana wrote:

Fight, passion, determination, style, confidence and hard working nature.

He might not be as quiet or "humble" as Messi but he's just as likeable to me.

I've disliked CRonaldo's from his manu dives against us.

Credit due as he was amazing against Spain but no way more likeable to me.
It's also impressive how he continually improved his diving technique over the years.

Messi wasn't bad either.

Most attackers dive.

Ronaldo would be crawling on the ground half the game if he had as much contact as messi gets.

Tony Montana wrote:

Bold Tone wrote:

I've disliked CRonaldo's from his manu dives against us.

Credit due as he was amazing against Spain but no way more likeable to me.
It's also impressive how he continually improved his diving technique over the years.

Messi wasn't bad either.

Most attackers dive.

If you say that all players who have ever dived are equal divers, then I guess you have a point.

Every other player is an amateur compared to CRonaldo who has diving manuals all over yt.
I only posted volume one and his hollywood-standard ("Even at 5-nil up ...") masterpiece from an incredible variety of choices.

Quincy Abeyie wrote:

Tony Montana wrote:

Messi wasn't bad either.

Most attackers dive.

If you say that all players who have ever dived are equal divers, then I guess you have a point.

No but where do you draw the line? Surely it's the principle.

It's quite clear most attackers dive more than once in a campaign let alone their careers.

Oh you only dived once to win a penalty to win the game to win the trophy so it's fine. However the other guy dived five times so he can do one.

Bold Tone wrote:

Every other player is an amateur compared to CRonaldo who has diving manuals all over yt.
I only posted volume one and his hollywood-standard ("Even at 5-nil up ...") masterpiece from an incredible variety of choices.

Nah that's rubbish. 

Best player I’ve seen. And the way he has evolved his game across three countries is remarkable. He doesn’t have the magic in his boots of a Ronaldinho, but his overall ability, productivity, and versatility has been remarkable.
He’s also really turned it on in the last 3-4 years, when many would expect his powers to be waning.

Tony Montana wrote:

jones wrote:

What about his character is likeable?

Fight, passion, determination, style, confidence and hard working nature.

He might not be as quiet or "humble" as Messi but he's just as likeable to me.

The problem is non of that comes across as being for the team, it's all for him. 

I mean there's a few occasions where he ranges from complete disinterest to fury when someone else other than him scores for Madrid. Then you have all his comments with regards to his individual accolades, his comments after winning the CL this year etc. Now, it's probably part of what makes him so good, and a lot of top players have this element about them too, but it doesn't change the fact that it makes him come across as a real prick.

And if all that doesn't sway you, he's prominent former United player. Ugh.

I'm pretty sure that's a plus in Tony's book.

Disgusting cheating diver trumps it all for me tbh.

jones wrote:

I'm pretty sure that's a plus in Tony's book.

No.

His football and will to win/score is a plus. 

Meanwhile in your words we've gotta love Materazzi despite some of the cynical and dangerous and sneaky challenges he had made throughout his career.

It's all swings and roundabouts really.

goon wrote:

Tony Montana wrote:

Fight, passion, determination, style, confidence and hard working nature.

He might not be as quiet or "humble" as Messi but he's just as likeable to me.

The problem is non of that comes across as being for the team, it's all for him. 

I mean there's a few occasions where he ranges from complete disinterest to fury when someone else other than him scores for Madrid. Then you have all his comments with regards to his individual accolades, his comments after winning the CL this year etc. Now, it's probably part of what makes him so good, and a lot of top players have this element about them too, but it doesn't change the fact that it makes him come across as a real prick.

And if all that doesn't sway you, he's prominent former United player. Ugh.

I don't see as much hate for Muhammad Ali who made comments such as the below:

"I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was".

Ronaldo doesn't just say that he's the best football player though, he literally says that he's the best at all aspects of football.

Tony Montana wrote:

jones wrote:

I'm pretty sure that's a plus in Tony's book.

No.

His football and will to win/score is a plus. 

Meanwhile in your words we've gotta love Materazzi despite some of the cynical and dangerous and sneaky challenges he had made throughout his career.

In Jonesy's defence, I was the one who said "gotta love Materazzi" Tone. Jones as I recall it said he was human garbage.

I agree with you on Ronaldo for what it's worth. The only type of player I won't tolerate is the Joey Barton kind who should've been in jail and/or counseling for psychotic behaviour both on and off the pitch. The rest are just doing amateur theatre in front of the cameras. Zlatan is playing a character every time he's on the screen. I imagine the same is true for Ronaldo to a large extent.

On the subject of diving and cheating, it's not nice of course, but people have to factor in the other perspective too. Ronaldo is one of the most fouled players in the world. For every dive there are three hard tackles that go unpunished. Two wrongs don't make one right, but until football starts to deal with these issues properly there's always going to be another side to the story. People never forgave Maradona for scoring with his hands, but they rarely mention him being in Guinness Book of World Records as the most fouled football player of all time.

Klaus wrote:

Tony Montana wrote:

No.

His football and will to win/score is a plus. 

Meanwhile in your words we've gotta love Materazzi despite some of the cynical and dangerous and sneaky challenges he had made throughout his career.

In Jonesy's defence, I was the one who said "gotta love Materazzi" Tone. Jones as I recall it said he was human garbage.

I agree with you on Ronaldo for what it's worth. The only type of player I won't tolerate is the Joey Barton kind who should've been in jail and/or counseling for psychotic behaviour both on and off the pitch. The rest are just doing amateur theatre in front of the cameras. Zlatan is playing a character every time he's on the screen. I imagine the same is true for Ronaldo to a large extent.

Agreed regarding Zlatan, not about Ronaldo though. Everything he does points to him not playing a role but being genuinely in love with himself. I must have linked this clip dozens of times but anyway

He's an amazing player and a complete prick. Not sure why that seems to cause cognitive dissonance in some but it's possible to be both.

Jed wrote:

goon wrote:

The problem is non of that comes across as being for the team, it's all for him. 

I mean there's a few occasions where he ranges from complete disinterest to fury when someone else other than him scores for Madrid. Then you have all his comments with regards to his individual accolades, his comments after winning the CL this year etc. Now, it's probably part of what makes him so good, and a lot of top players have this element about them too, but it doesn't change the fact that it makes him come across as a real prick.

And if all that doesn't sway you, he's prominent former United player. Ugh.

I don't see as much hate for Muhammad Ali who made comments such as the below:

"I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was".

I’ve not said anything about him praising himself. Aside from that, boxing isn’t a team sport unlike football, which is the entire basis for my criticism.

Jed wrote:

goon wrote:

The problem is non of that comes across as being for the team, it's all for him. 

I mean there's a few occasions where he ranges from complete disinterest to fury when someone else other than him scores for Madrid. Then you have all his comments with regards to his individual accolades, his comments after winning the CL this year etc. Now, it's probably part of what makes him so good, and a lot of top players have this element about them too, but it doesn't change the fact that it makes him come across as a real prick.

And if all that doesn't sway you, he's prominent former United player. Ugh.

I don't see as much hate for Muhammad Ali who made comments such as the below:

"I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was".

Is that really so hard to understand? That quote already shows that Ali did always throw some humour some even selfdeprecating into his megalomania while Ronaldo gives dead serious interviews making claims which are a lot more arguable than Ali's. Then of course there's the little fact that one believed in something other than his own personal glory and gave up his prime years and his freedom for it while Ronaldo wouldn't even give up a goal to a team mate who hadn't scored in years

Klaus wrote:

Tony Montana wrote:

No.

His football and will to win/score is a plus. 

Meanwhile in your words we've gotta love Materazzi despite some of the cynical and dangerous and sneaky challenges he had made throughout his career.

 Ronaldo is one of the most fouled players in the world.

That's just statistically wrong - maybe you're thinking of his United years when he was a dribler. Last season he was the 218th most fouled player in La Liga. He was fouled 18 times, while the most fouled was Munir with 114. Messi was fouled 80 times. Players like Ronaldo who rarely drible aren't really fouled much.

18 times is insane. Neymar was fouled 11 times in today's game alone

“There are players for some matches, there are players for every matches and there are players for special matches,”

“And the players for special matches are the ones.”