jasdooit

• Can you conquer Craig Hope’s World Cup quiz? Put your expertise to the test HERE

It was a factual remark made by one of the young Congolese midfielders, and although not meant to be offensive, it was a harsh evaluation.

Asked after achieving a draw against Portugal, a country ranked 40 places higher than his team, whether there had been a strategy to handleCristiano Ronaldo, 21-year-old Ngal’ayel Mukau stated otherwise.

We are aware that he is not the same as he used to be. He has grown a bit older,” he said. “He is still one of the top players to have ever played the game – so, yes, a lot of respect for him. Definitely, when you get a bit older, it’s not the same level of effort you put in.

The Lille player expressed additional reservations regarding personal respect for the 41-year-old—clearly genuine—but he stated a truth that Ronaldo’s manager was neither able to address nor acknowledge on Wednesday.

The distorted distribution of influence in Ronaldo’s dynamic with Roberto Martinez became most apparent when another Portuguese forward was introduced into the weakened attack that centered around a struggling Ronaldo during the second half against DR Congo.

The instant was demanding that he step aside for thePSGforward Gonçalo Ramos. Instead, Vitinha was moved from midfield to take his place. The midfield became less populated without any positive change in attack.

There was much careful navigation of this obvious issue, when Martinez eventually met to talk about the 1-1 draw.

The challenge posed by Ronaldo was scarcely mentioned during the portion of the press conference involving Portuguese media, and when it arose, Martinez addressed the issue with lengthy and indirect responses.

When Daily Mail Sport inquired if he had thought about replacing Ronaldo, his response — that if you need goals against a team that plays deep, Ronaldo’s involvement is essential — directly opposed what had happened earlier in the match.

Ronaldo has gone ten games without scoring in a major international tournament. His most recent goal of this kind was on November 24, 2022, in the Selecao’s opening match of the Qatar World Cup against Ghana. And that goal was from the penalty spot. It’s no surprise, then, that he appeared eager to grab any opportunities that came his way on Wednesday.

He kicked with his right foot at Francisco Conceicao’s pass in the 68th minute without gaining control of the ball, as Bruno Fernandes was positioned behind him in a more advantageous spot.

In various parts of Portugal, frustration is growing towards a player who received a four out of ten score in L’Equipe’s renowned player evaluations.

It’s not solely about him. The team’s sleep-inducing style of play—focused on possession without effective breakthroughs—led some Portuguese supporters to express their dissatisfaction within the stadium. However, Martinez’s decision to allow Ronaldo to dictate his own path is the main obstacle to the team’s success moving forward.

It appears probable that the Spaniard will depart following this tournament. Is there anything to lose by addressing this issue?

The final days of the World Cup have showcased the exceptional talent that emerging countries have brought to the tournament.

Ronaldo does not belong in the same category as Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, or Erling Haaland. The situation is straightforward. Assign him a less significant position, or don’t even attempt to win the trophy.

One might expect Ronaldo to recognize this situation, yet the events of Wednesday suggest he views himself as an essential in-game coach. Upon Portugal conceding a goal, he had a verbal exchange with defender Renato Veiga and goalkeeper Diogo Costa, who had not left their line.

After Martinez finished his press conference, we made our way back up from the underground area to the outside, where the sun in Houston had emerged. Two women wearing Portugal jerseys approached me. “Can you take us to see Cristiano Ronaldo?” one of them asked.

The amount of admiration is limitless, but if Portugal is to succeed, Ronaldo must be informed that he will play as a substitute, coming off the bench to provide 20 minutes of extreme intensity where he can use his exceptional football sense. Don’t expect it to happen.

Read more