Just reading through some shocking journalism from what I suppose should be one of the most respected football writers in the UK about Ronaldo’s performances for Portugal. Worth a read for the sheer hilarity of it: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/euro2012/article-2164098/Euro-2012-If-Cristiano-Ronaldo-wins-best-seen.html
You would think Ronaldo played for Andorra or San Marino and not a team with Bruno Alves, Pepe, Coentrao and Nani, not to mention Moutinho who’s been almost as good as Ronaldo for Portugal. And while not as good as the above names, even the likes of Meireles and Veloso are seasoned, experienced, good performers who offer a lot. This tool actually said Portugal winning the Euros would be more surprising than Greece of 2004 or Denmark (who made the ’92 tournament without qualifying) and compared the scale of Ronaldo’s achievement to Maradonna in ’86. I literally couldn’t believe the garbage a top journalist and “chief football writer" was spouting. I read it twice and found it even more ridiculous the 2nd time.
This could be another of those big, spurious myths that people perpetuate over time enough to be accepted as immutable truth. Like Gerrard winning the 05 CL “single-handed" or Zidane doing the same in France ’98. You can bet if Greece had any world class player in 2004 who had 1 or 2 match-winning performances in the tournament, they’d call their triumph a one-man job.
The Portugal One Man Show
posted on 26/6/12
Ronaldo aint gonna do anything on spain, he will be back to his usual of Flop Ronaldo
Messi FTW
posted on 26/6/12
Messi FTW
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Messi is definitely not going to win, that is for sure
posted on 26/6/12
Ronaldo aint gonna do anything on spain, he will be back to his usual of Flop Ronaldo
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oh dear, theres a c h a v y kid on, must have a day off sick
posted on 26/6/12
Rooney would be immense in that Portugal team
posted on 26/6/12
"This could be another of those big, spurious myths that people perpetuate over time enough to be accepted as immutable truth. "
Very true. But Ronaldo will disappear into obscurity against Spain.
posted on 26/6/12
Why are people in the media over looking Nanis' contribution in this championship? Portugal have been far from a one man team.I know Ron is the "star" but Nani has been brilliant on the right, i actually think he used the the ball better than Ron, he's played some intelligent balls into the other front players and hasn't been any where near as wasteful as Postiga, Moutinho or Meireles.
posted on 27/6/12
comment by Sheriff John Brown - We're a 1-man team but that's 1 more than the toy tots. (U7482)
posted 13 hours, 57 minutes ago
if Portugal win this then it will prove Ronaldo is the best player in the world no doubt
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You're entitled to that opinion but it proves diddly-squat. It'll mean the Portuguese team played a blinder and he was an important cog in the wheel. All 3 of his goals have been laid on a plate for his finish. He's not scoring any Maradonnaesque goals.
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Oh come on, that's a bit harsh!
First of all, I'd hardly say on a plate! That header was was pure quality for starters. More to the point though, some of his play has been out of this world. He has hit the post four times and 3 of those would easily have been contenders for goal of the tournament. One of them would have completed a hattrick.
I think it is nitpicking in the extreme to say that his goals haven't been Hollywood enough. His all round contribution has been, and then some.
I don't care if he's the best player in the world, he has been the standout player in this tournament by a mile.
posted on 27/6/12
I think Ronaldo generally struggles to impose himself against good teams. Take for instance his performances against Bayern where although he scored a early penalty and an early one-on-one he was largely very very annonymous.
He has impressed against an absolutely dreadful Czech team against whom Dzagoev the Russian impressed too and against a pathetic Dutch defence against whom Gomez also scored twice.
For Ronaldo to be considered better than Messi and player of the tournament he'd have to take Portugal to beat Spain and then the final.
Impressing against a dreadful Dutch defence and an awful Czech team is simply not enough
posted on 27/6/12
I think Ronaldo generally struggles to impose himself against good teams
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When he was at United he took us almost singlehandedly to two CL finals and scored in one of those. So this is a complete myth that he can't play against top teams. Also, there were no teams in the PL that he didn't perform against - are you saying that the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea were not top teams back then (when we had 3 English clubs in the semis of the CL)? Ronaldo has torn both of those teams to pieces in his time at OT. One of the games against Chelsea would have finished 5-0 to United if Ron didn't have two goals wrongly disallowed.
The fact is that he is almost universally hated and so people make up reasons to belittle him, especially the Messi fanboys in North London. I.e. he's not as good as messi, therefore he is overrated, doesn't perform at the top level, etc etc etc.
Ronaldo is world class - against any opposition. He just might not be quite the very best player on the planet. I always amazes me how much criticism he receives for that - almost as if it makes him a failure!!!
He is one of the best players of all time, whether he is as good as Messi or not.
Why can't people just accept that?
posted on 27/6/12
Ronaldo's record against Chelsea wasn't outstanding either
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What? Ronaldo's record against Chelsea was just fine, thanks.