I hate Ronaldo and therefore always want Portugal to lose.
But they look great tonight without him! And they're in the Morocco / France half of the draw, so if they keep this side - and him out - they could go far.
Yes. Now someone needs to tell him that.
shareI never believed this "teams are better without Ronaldo" argument. They said the same thing last year with Man United and they only won one game without him. Before Ronaldo started playing, Portugal had only made the World Cup twice (1966 and 1986). Since he's started playing, they have made 5 consecutive World Cup tournaments and 5 consecutive Euro tournaments. He has never missed qualifying for any international tournament. He also won the Euro in 2016 and made the final in 2004. Portugal had never made a final before he came in. He is also the only player to score in 5 World Cup tournaments.
shareNo...
First of all, Portugal had already 3 world cups, not twice: 66, 86 and also 2002.
Secondly, Ronaldo only started being THE key player from 2008 onwards.
From 96 to 2006 Portugal had what is called the "golden generation", which included european stars like Rui Costa, Figo, Paulo Sousa, Joao Pinto, Nuno Gomes, Couto, Deco (2004 and 2006), Carvalho...
Finally, the fact that Portugal barely qualified for international competitions was not because "they didn't have Ronaldo to carry them", it was because the amount of teams in the finals was way more restrict.
Euro 96 was the first Euro with 16 teams, and Portugal made it to ALL the Euros since then. Not because they now have Ronaldo, it's because it's easy to be in the top 16 teams.
After 1998 also all World Cups started having 32 teams.
Just to make this point clearer - even with Ronaldo, in recent years, Portugal needed to go to the playoffs to qualify to the final tournament, which proves that EVEN WITH RONALDO, had the finals been with less teams (16 or 8), Portugal would not be there.
Example:
- Euro 2008, Portugal was not 1st in the qualifying group, therefore had the euro been with only 8 teams, Portugal would not go
- Euro 2012, Portugal had to go to the playoff, therefore had the euro been with only 8 teams, Portugal would not go
- Euro 2020, Portugal was not 1st in the qualifying group, therefore had the euro been with only 8 teams, Portugal would not go
- World Cup 2010, Portugal had to go to the playoff, therefore had the WC been with only 16 teams, Portugal would not go
- World Cup 2014, Portugal had to go to the playoff, therefore had the WC been with only 16 teams, Portugal would not go
- World Cup 2022, Portugal had to go to the playoff, therefore had the WC been with only 16 teams, Portugal would not go
But more importantly than all these stats that clearly disprove what you are saying, we only need to see the team actually play in the field... And the result is obvious.
First of all, Portugal had already 3 world cups, not twice: 66, 86 and also 2002.
Secondly, Ronaldo only started being THE key player from 2008 onwards.
From 96 to 2006 Portugal had what is called the "golden generation", which included european stars like Rui Costa, Figo, Paulo Sousa, Joao Pinto, Nuno Gomes, Couto, Deco (2004 and 2006), Carvalho...
Just to make this point clearer - even with Ronaldo, in recent years, Portugal needed to go to the playoffs to qualify to the final tournament, which proves that EVEN WITH RONALDO, had the finals been with less teams (16 or 8), Portugal would not be there.
Example:
But more importantly than all these stats that clearly disprove what you are saying, we only need to see the team actually play in the field... And the result is
In 2002 he hadn't played for the national team yet, so he's not responsible for that. His first game for the national team was 2003.
He has been good, of course, and has made great games for Portugal as well, but it's been around 5 years since his presence in the national team just conditions the other players. They are mandated to feed him, to give him goals.
And he doesn't help in other moments of the game.
Very good points SJ. People just love to hate on Ronaldo because of his ego. He has 118 goals for the national team but "he makes them worse". And like "feeding him goals" is a bad thing. haha. I thought the point of football was to outscore your opponent. HeΒ΄s more of a box player now but there are players who are only box players their whole careers and no one ever complains about them.
shareExactly. Messi is the nicer of the two and I think people gravitate toward him because of that. They look at Ronaldo and automatically think he's worse because they have a subconscious negative view of him. He's won on every team he's played for except Sporting. The argument that he makes teams worse only applies if he doesn't win with them.
shareI never believed this "teams are better without Ronaldo" argument.
I did see the game. But one game is not enough evidence. As I said before, people said the same thing about Ronaldo with Man United, but they only won one game without him when he joined them last year.
shareIt's hard to say whether he was a good influence or a problem for Manchester United last season.
shareThey played very good yeah, still checkout the weak rival just like Brazil that beat a team formed by singles and married guys.
Another thing to highlight is the awful Ronaldo attitude that right after the win he decided to go to the locker room instead of celebrating with the team and the fans. If I were the coach I'd sit out his arrogant ass next game against Morocco.
Cristiano Ronaldo's attitude is disgusting, walking off like that while his teammates celebrate with the travelling fans who paid an awful lot of money to go to Qatar to cheer them on.
Selfish and shameful.
It was clickbait. The Swiss team had already walked off. People are acting like Portugal had won the tournament by making the QF, I see no issue with him walking off earlier than his teammates.
shareHe needs to accept that he is yesterdays man.
shareIs Ronaldo out for next game too?
share