The opening week of a FIFA World Cup has been dominated by a full-blown Portuguese soap opera. Following an underwhelming 1-1 draw against a resilient DR Congo side, Cristiano Ronaldo has found himself at the epicenter of a familiar media storm. Rumours of dressing-room friction have surfaced in the Portuguese camp, while critics have aggressively questioned manager Roberto Martnez’s authority and tactical willingness to bench his 41-year-old captain.
Ronaldo’s performance in Houston added substantial fuel to the fire. The veteran forward cut a deeply frustrated figure, recording just 25 touches and failing to register a single shot on target. The performance extended an unwanted statistical barren patch, marking 10 consecutive matches in major international tournaments without a goal for his country. Compounding the scrutiny, long-time rival Lionel Messi had illuminated the previous evening with a magnificent hat-trick for Argentina in their opening match against Algeria.
Yet, precisely when the knives are out, former Manchester United teammate Michael Owen has stepped forward to staunchly defend the legendary forward. Owen dismissed the swelling wave of criticism, urging detractors not to misinterpret Ronaldo’s natural evolution as a footballer.
“It did not help Cristiano Ronaldo that Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick the night before Portugal played, but I’m not having the criticism of him,” Owen told the Daily Mail.
“Portugal weren’t great in their 1-1 draw with DR Congo and a lot of the fallout has been around Ronaldo and him being a problem for them.
“But hasn’t he always played like this, to a degree? He has never been a player, especially in recent years, who involves himself in the game. He will be there for the big moments, though. If he’s not scoring, it’s too easy to blame Ronaldo. At 41, he is going to be questioned.”
HAT-TRICK LOADING?
Owen remains fully convinced that Ronaldo possesses an unmatched capacity to rewrite the script when backed into a corner, tipping him to exploit Portugal’s next Group K fixture on June 23.
“But how many times has this happened and he’s shut everyone up in the next game? If you’re picking Ronaldo then you have to accept what he is there for – and I wouldn’t be surprised if he responds with a hat-trick of his own against Uzbekistan,” Owen added.
Martnez’s tactical blueprint continues to deploy Ronaldo in a central focal point flanked by Bernardo Silva and Pedro Neto. While domestic pundits suggest the system compromises Portugal’s fluidity, the pressure shifting to Tuesday’s Group K clash with Uzbekistan is palpable.
For Ronaldo, a date with the tournament debutants offers the ultimate stage to do what he has built a career on, turning overwhelming noise into silent vindication.
FIFA World Cup | FIFA World Cup Schedule | FIFA World Cup Points Table | Football News
– Ends
