To save or not to save Cristiano Ronaldo, that’s the question. Fernando Santos will rotate a large part of Portugal’s starting lineup for the duel with South Korea, this Friday (2), at 12 (Brasilia time), at the Education City Stadium, for the third and final round of Group H of the Cup of the 2022 World Cup. The offensive reference, however, must be maintained.
Despite being 37 years old and not having practiced on the pitch last Wednesday (30), when he has done specific physical recovery work in the gym, Ronaldo wants to play as many minutes as possible in Qatar. Even with a guaranteed presence in the round of 16, the Portuguese coach will hardly oppose decision of the star player and team captain.
“There is a plan if Cristiano doesn’t play (2-0).
More than keeping the level high and, consequently, reawakening interest in the ball market, as he is now a player with no club, CR7 chased the record of his historic compatriot Eusébio. The “Black Panther” has nine goals in six World Cup matches, all scored in the 1966 World Cup, when Portugal fell to hosts and champions England in the semi-finals.
Cristiano Ronaldo, in turn, has so far scored eight goals in 19 matches played in the competition, the most recent of which was on his debut in 2022 against Ghana. The other seven are spread over Germany-2006 (one out of six matches), South Africa-2010 (one out of four), Brazil-2014 (one out of three) and Russia-2018 (four out of four).
“Ronaldo still has enormous weight in the national team. He continues to be a preponderant element in offensive maneuvers, as well as being an added value in the eyes of the opponent. It’s one thing to play with Ronaldo on the pitch, it’s another to play without Ronaldo on the pitch. his presence intimidates his rival, for all he has already done and can still do”, highlighted the former Portuguese striker Nuno Gomes, who was with CR7 in the 2006 World Cup, in Germany, when UOL Sport.
While looking to make history on Qatari soil, Ronaldo enjoys other major World Cup successes. He is, for example, the only player to swing the net in five different editions. He is also the youngest (21 in 2006) and oldest ever (37 in 2022) to score for Portugal.
According to Cristiano Ronaldo, even the draw with Eusébio had to be reached last Monday (28), in comparison with Uruguay. He went off the field with the certainty of having touched the ball with his head (or hair) in a cross from Bruno Fernando, who, according to the referees, ended up being the holder of the goal. The Portuguese Football Federation, incidentally, even waited for a re-evaluation from FIFA the next day.
Possible starters against South Korea
Taking into account the physical fatigue and the possibility of losing four players through suspension (Rúben Dias, Rúben Neves, Bruno Fernandes and João Félix are suspended), Portugal should take the field against South Korea with the following formation: Rui Patrício (or Diogo Costa), Diogo Dalot, Pepe, António Silva and Raphael Guereiro (or João Cancelo); Palhinha, Matheus Nunes and Vitinha; João Mário, Rafael Leão and Cristiano Ronaldo (or André Silva).
