Next favorite fails
©IMAGO
Cristiano Ronaldo got off to a very slow start in his sixth World Cup with Portugal. The team that was considered one of the favorites only managed a 1-1 draw against the underdog Democratic Republic of Congo (1-1). A good 16 hours after his eternal superstar rival Lionel Messi’s gala performance with three goals, Ronaldo played inconspicuously for long stretches – and remained without a goal or a win
João Neves gave Portugal an early lead (6th minute). The equalizer by Yoane Wissa (45th + 5) punished the 2016 European champions for increasingly losing the pace of the game.
Ronaldo here, Ronaldo there – the superstar’s name had been omnipresent around the stadium in Houston long before kick-off. Thousands of people wore a jersey with the number 7. When the 41-year-old stepped onto the pitch for the first time to warm up, there was a huge cheer. Ronaldo is “an icon of world football,” Portugal national coach Roberto Martínez said before the game.
Unlike previous World Cups, Portugal offers more than just the former world footballer at this final tournament. Around the triumph in the Nations League last year, a team developed with players of at least international class. The midfield with Paris players Vitinha and Neves is one of the best in the world.
Accordingly, the Portuguese took control of the game from the first minute.
The 2016 European champion repeatedly approached the Congolese goal, especially from the outside – even after taking the lead. Ronaldo waited in the center for the crosses coming into the penalty area; as usual, the superstar didn’t go far (anymore).
Is Portugal better without Ronaldo?
On Wednesday, at 41 years and 132 days old, the oldest professional ever to be in a World Cup starting eleven was indispensable for the offensive game, Martínez said. The fact that critics see things differently was mentioned during the ZDF broadcast by ex-national player Christoph Kramer: The Portuguese team is “so full of world class that he can take a little bit away from them,” said the 2014 world champion.
Outsiders Congo weren’t exactly the opponents in Houston that put this to the test until shortly before the half-time whistle. The professionals from the country hit by the Ebola crisis then surprised with the equalizer after a corner. After Newcastle professional Wissa’s header, the few fans in the arena compared to the Portuguese cheered loudly. Because of the Ebola entry restrictions imposed by the US authorities, hardly any people from the Congo were able to travel there.
The goal caught the Portuguese off guard – and it was the acknowledgment for the previous minutes, which seemed like too much complacency. In the second half, Portugal pushed even harder for the second goal. An apparent goal from a remarkable overhead kick by João Cancelo (not Ronaldo) did not count because the outside player was offside (55th).
As a result, the co-favorites increasingly ran out of time – the Congolese defense seemed better prepared for Portugal’s short passing game. Ronaldo’s shot in the penalty area missed the goal (67′), another shot from the superstar was too high (74′). His teammate Bruno Fernandes tried in vain with a long-range shot (90th).