Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal face a sobering early World Cup exit on Thursday, even if their world footballer of the year produces pyrotechnics in their final group game against Ghana.
The Real Madrid player came to the World Cup bracketed alongside Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Brazil’s Neymar as one of a triumvirate of true global superstars.
But while the Barcelona pair have produced moments of sublime skill and goals, the attention surrounding Ronaldo has mainly focused on the health or otherwise of his troublesome left knee.
Portugal are rock bottom of Group G with a solitary point from their matches against Germany and the US, both of whom have four points.
They were pummelled 4-0 by Germany, and the fact they still have any chance of progressing at all is down to Ronaldo, who delivered a sublime cross for their equaliser in a 2-2 draw against the US.
Portugal have insisted throughout the tournament that their star player is fit, but he has failed to dominate matches in the way he does for his club and admitted that his side’s task is
‘virtually impossible’.
“I never thought we would be world champions. We have to be humble and recognise our limitations. There are things we cannot do, like running faster or having more quality,” he said.
“At the moment there are better teams and better players than our own,” added the 29-year-old, who had an outstanding season for Real that culminated in a 10th Champions League title for the club.
US, Germany to determine top spot in Group G
The spectre of one of the most infamous episodes in World Cup history looms over Germany and the US as they clash for a place in the last 16.
The two teams have four points heading into their final Group G match and a draw in Recife would see both qualify at the expense of Portugal and Ghana.
The sense of intrigue has been heightened by the fact that Germany coach Joachim Loew and the United States’ boss Jurgen Klinsmann are old friends.
“We have that fighting spirit, and we give everything in every game,” said Klinsmann. “We will go to Recife and we will give everything to beat Germany. That is our goal.”
History in the making for ambitious Algeria
Algeria can make history by qualifying for the second round of the World Cup for the first time in four appearances at the tournament when they face Russia in Curitiba in the early hours of Friday.
The Desert Foxes will be assured of their place in the last 16 with a win. Algeria ended a 32-year wait for a World Cup win in emphatic style with a 4-2 demolition of the Koreans on Sunday.
Granada midfielder Yacine Brahimi was among those on the scoresheet in Porto Alegre and he is eyeing more glory against a Russian side that has failed to live up to expectations so far.
“It is one of the most important matches of my career, it is a match which can write a new chapter in the history of our country, and that is very much in our heads,” he said.
Meanwhile, Belgium will be looking to win their last match of the group against struggling Korea to make it three wins in three for the dark horses of this World Cup.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 26th, 2014.
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