In the first goal he scored Portugal against Uruguay to qualify for the round of 16 of this World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo raised his finger and began to run, claiming responsibility for the goal. The reality, however, is stubborn. More so since, many years ago, football is littered with repetitions that leave little room for interpretation. The goal had been scored by Bruno Fernandes, like the second, in his center attempt. And there is something metaphorical in the scene, no matter how much the result is the same.
Because his entire team, his coach Fernando Santos and the captain himself continue to insist that this be Cristiano’s Portugal, in his image and likeness. But time passes for everyone, also for the most perfect frame that has ever existed to play this sport, and this is no longer Cristiano’s Portugal. Or it should not be, because it is with Bruno Fernandes who has paved his way to the next phase. He did it in the opening match and repeated this Monday at the lusail stadiumleaving Uruguay with difficulties for the third day: they will have to beat Ghana and hope that South Korea does not beat the Portuguese.
All this happened a minute after the social demands slipped back into the World Cup with the most sociopolitical connotations in history. This time it was a spontaneous one who literally grabbed the LGTBI flag, also dressed in a T-shirt calling for “save Ukraine” and “respect for Iranian women.” He was reduced by stadium security and evacuated in seconds, but there remains his gesture. Another one to embarrass those who insist on collusion with the repressors in all areas claimed by him.
veterans duel
Pepe against Cavani (later Luis Suárez) in one area, Godín against Cristiano in the other, old flavor covering every inch of grass in the exquisite Lusail, the stadium that will host the final in three Sundays. Both teams rush the most exquisite generation that has sprouted from their nations in recent times while giving flight to the next, to the Valverde and Núñez, to the Leao and Joao Félix.
Between one and the other there are full types, who try to show off their maturity in this World Cup. There is Bentancur, who started the duel by giving a painful message to Carvalho that cost him the yellow card and then he was sent off. But that he was also the one who put together the best chance of the first half, a start from the center of the field, during which he exposed Rúben Dias. Diogo Costa, with his elbow on the grass, prevented Uruguay’s goal.
charrúa retreat
Until then, 30 minutes into the game, the initiative had been Portuguese, but without excessive packaging or determination. With Portugal, he always offers the sensation of sailing with the sails furled, without taking advantage of the momentum of the enormous talent he accumulates on his offensive front. And that is a comfortable scenario for a fast and effective Uruguay in the withdrawal, without fear of obstructing the scarce flow of Portuguese play with fouls when necessary.
This is how the rest was reached, without too many stories to tell beyond the Uruguayan aggressiveness and the Portuguese I want and I can’t. A match until then with a World Cup hangover, after the vibrant Cameroon-Serbia (3-3) Y South Korea-Ghana (2-3) that had graced the beginning of the Monday day.
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Boredom broke him, ten minutes into the second half, Bruno Fernandes, by far the best footballer in Portugal in his first two games in Qatar. In the debut against Ghana he revitalized his team with assists and at Lusail he signed the goal himself. His intention was to cross to Cristiano, but the Portuguese captain did not touch the ball. He just passed (very) close to his head and that was enough to mislead Rochet at his exit.
Uruguay tried, even adding a shot to Maxi Gómez’s post, but he did not give him football to equalize the duel. On the contrary, he conceded a second goal due to a penalty incomprehensibly called by the VAR, due to a hand from Giménez, in a natural position, cushioning his shot towards the ground. Cristiano was no longer on the field. Who threw it and put it in? Bruno Fernandes, of course.