Distractions not enough to stop Ronaldo

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This article was published 15/06/2018 (3032 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

With two minutes to play in Sochi, and with Portugal trailing 3-2 to regional rivals Spain, Seleção das Quinas captain and Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo won a freekick after being fouled by La Roja and Barcelona defender Gerard Pique. Standing over the ball, he pulled his shorts up over his thighs.

He had no reason to do it. Moments later he would release a surgical effort that would arc up and over the wall defending goalkeeper David de Gea, the ball bulging the twine at the near post and the tally capping a 3-3 draw —easily the best match of the 2018 World Cup so far and an instant classic.

But before the ball was launched on its way, there was its launcher, frivolously displaying his muscular quadriceps for the billions of viewers who would see it at the Fisht Olympic Stadium on Russia’s Black Sea coast, on live television, on replays and in the photographs, GIFs and memes that will live on long after the trophy is presented to Ronaldo or someone else next month in Moscow.

In a way, the bit of exhibitionism — and the golaço that followed — was a fitting conclusion to a match that had arrived as more of a Distraction Derby than Iberian duel. Earlier in the day, Ronaldo’s lawyers had reached an agreement with the state bar over tax offences (he’ll pay nearly 20 million euros ($28 million) but will not see the inside of a jail as his two-year sentence is “suspended”); rumours of a transfer continued to swirl, perhaps even to former club Manchester United, as his mother indicated she’d prefer.

But the 33-year-old was anything but distracted during Portugal’s World Cup opener on Friday. In only the third minute he went to ground, softly, after the slightest of touches by Spain right-back Nacho. Needless to say, he converted the resulting penalty. And he scored a second in the 44th minute when his seemingly harmless shot was spilled by de Gea. In the dying minutes, following his spectacular free-kick equalizer, he crumpled to the surface in a desperate, dishonest attempt to waste time.

A showman, a flaunter, a deceiver. A villain. Ronaldo has been all these things throughout his career, and he was all these things in Sochi. He was outstanding in each role.

Of course, his hat trick only made up one half of the scoring in this six-goal thriller. Diego Costa scored twice for Spain, and Nacho notched the other. Perhaps even more than Ronaldo and Portugal, the 2010 champions had seemed to overcome considerable distraction of their own by kick-off — something they underlined after conceding that early penalty.

Just two days before this contest they sacked their manager. Julen Lopetegui, after taking Spain through qualifying with 28 of a possible 30 points, had accepted the vacant position at Real Madrid, and while he had intended to begin the job after the World Cup, it was a situation Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF)president Luis Rubiales couldn’t abide.

Now, it’s not exactly rare for an international manager to agree on a club contract while still preparing, or competing in, a major tournament. In that context, Rubiales can be said to have acted rashly, in a moment of anger.

However, everything that affects this particular national team must be seen through the lens of the archrivalry of Real Madrid and Barcelona, which, apart from football, exists in the political federalism of some players and support for Catalan independence among others. It’s a tension the manager must be comfortable to live within, and not, under any circumstance, exacerbate.

In Rubiales’ view, Lopetegui’s decision to join Real Madrid while Spain manager risked driving a wedge between the factions already latent in the squad.

And while Madrid captain Sergio Ramos and Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta led a united effort to save Lopetegui’s job, Rubiales’ mind was already made up. He promoted RFEF sporting director and Real Madrid alumnus Fernando Hierro to the vacated decision.

“Two years of work cannot be touched in two days,” insisted Hierro in his rushed introductory press conference. “We won’t change anything in two days.”

If anything, they got better.

Perhaps galvanized by the chaos of Wednesday and Thursday (and “galvanization” is not a term often associated with the Spanish national team), they put on a show of scintillating, attacking football in Sochi, and until Ronaldo’s late equalizer, they looked headed for the three points.

Costa’s first came in the 24th minute when he shook off both Pepe and Jose Fonte before delivering the sort of strongman’s finish his adopted country (he was born in Brazil) has been craving from him. Then, in the 55th and with Spain trailing 2-1, he bundled the ball into the back of the net after Sergio Busquets headed David Silva’s floater back into the goalmouth.

Silva, who completed 85 per cent of his passes on the night and seemed to be dribbling through and around everyone in a maroon shirt, played perhaps his best match at international level. Ditto Isco, whose shimmies and feints in the 58th minute, combined with some similarly magical dribbles from Silva, resulted in the spectacular Nacho volley that put Spain ahead 3-2.

In the end, 3-3 was probably a fair result, although Iran will no doubt be delighted to be leading Group B after shocking Morocco earlier in the day. Who saw that coming?

Then again, who thought Portugal-Spain would serve up one of the more riveting World Cup matches in the recent history of the tournament?

Ronaldo, perhaps. Hierro, too.

This may have been the Distraction Derby, but going forward, their opponents must assume that Portugal and Spain are focused on nothing less than winning the World Cup. They could even meet again along the way.

Here’s hoping.

jerradpeters@gmail.comTwitter: @JerradPeters