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Paulo Bento And The Cristiano Ronaldo Issue In Portugal

Finally, Cristiano Ronaldo returns to the Portuguese squad! The Real Madrid superstar, free from injury, was eventually made available ahead of Paulo Bento’s selection for the Selecção’s Euro 2012 qualifying matches against Denmark and Iceland respectively. Over the past two years now, Captain Cristiano Ronaldo hasn’t managed to escape criticism from the public – and this also includes supporters of Portugal’s team who are apparently anxious about the player’s performances and statistics at the international level now.

However, many had accused ex-coach Carlos Queiroz for failing to make the most of Ronaldo’s talent through a convenient game plan. Now that the former Manchester United assistant has been sacked as Portugal coach, all eyes will be on new boss Paulo Bento to do what Luiz Felipe Scolari did best during his time with the Selecção: to find the perfect chemistry to connect Portugal’s entire team play with Cristiano Ronaldo as a key player at the center of success.

There are rumors that CR7 was “lost” and unhappy under Queiroz. These claims actually tried to explain why the former FIFA Player of the Year and Ballon d’Or winner experienced a two-year goal drought after netting a goal for Portugal against the Czech Republic during the 2008 European Championship. Either way, time seems to be moving fast as the Portuguese national team tries to get out from its recent troubles. 

A below-par display from the squad saw them dump out from the 2010 FIFA World Cup in the Round of 16 as their unconvincing form continued to torment Portugal fans. In fact, any football analyst will say that there’s certainly more to the Selecção than just Cristiano Ronaldo.

However, what definitely needs to work out in the team is a good game plan that will help Portugal rebuild itself and grow stronger than ever with Cristiano Ronaldo as the leader. Is the Real Madrid star too young to captain the squad? Does he have what it takes in terms of mental inspiration to assume this role? Well, these are questions that will be put in the shade for now as Coach Paulo Bento looks set to maintain Ronaldo as Portugal’s skipper.

On one hand, the former Sporting Lisbon manager has so much to think of besides just wondering about CR7’s capability of carrying the armband. On the other hand, the philosophy in the Portuguese squad is that all players are leaders on the pitch. There are 11 captains playing – meaning that the captaincy issue shouldn’t even come as a matter to new Coach Paulo Bento who, himself, admitted last week:

“Just because he [Cristiano Ronaldo] is the captain and one of the world’s best players does not mean that he’s got to sort out all our problems.”

It has certainly been made clear Paulo Bento’s idea isn’t to have Ronaldo as a miracle doer. All the players he calls up to the squad need to make things happen on their own for the benefit of the whole squad. But Bento apparently hasn’t got total support from Portuguese fans. Many underestimate the credibility of the new manager who never achieved anything really in European football as a player. Portugal’s duty from now on will be to make the talking on the field of play.

Things definitely have to improve, but playing against Denmark might not prove to be easy at all. Embarrassing memories will remind the Portuguese how they surprisingly lost 3-2 to the Danes at home; this kind of result will have to be avoided as Coach Paulo Bento aims to build something new with the Selecção who actually possess a lot of talent in players like Joao Moutinho, Luis Nani, and even new faces Paulo Machado and Carlos Martins.

Portugal’s Revival Mission – Denmark To Get In Their Way?

The battle is an enormous one – Portugal can’t afford to go a step back after dropping four points in their first two games. On paper, they had everything to defeat Cyprus and Norway but the situation proved to be very different. There’s certainly no need to look back at their 4-4 and 1-0 results. Now Friday’s match against Denmark is a crucial one; this Euro 2012 qualifying fixture will tell a lot about Portugal’s chances of reaching the finals of the tournament in Poland and Ukraine.

Statistically, the Danes are on top of Portugal in Group H’s five-team table. Denmark expectedly defeated Iceland 1-0 in their only Euro 2012 qualifying match so far. Whereas Portugal will be playing their third game of the campaign, Denmark will have the chance to emulate Norway by clinching 6 points from two games and thus open a five-point gap above the Selecção with a game in hand. Of course, such a thing will almost mean suicide for Paulo Bento’s men, so the duel between Denmark’s opportunities and Portugal’s woes should intensify the atmosphere during the game.

Portugal vs Denmark: Portugal’s Man Squad

Eduardo; Beto; Rui Patricio; Silvio; Bruno Alves; Rolando; Pepe; Fabio Coentrao; Ricardo Carvalho; Joao Pereira; Tiago; Raul Meireles; Paulo Machado; Miguel Veloso; Joao Moutinho; Carlos Martins; Silvestre Varela; Nani; Hugo Almeida; Liedson; Helder Postiga; Danny; Cristiano Ronaldo

Note: Liedson and Miguel Veloso have finally withdrawn from the squad through injury. New face Ruben Micael and midfielder Manuel Fernandes will replace the duo.

Portugal vs Denmark: Denmark’s Man Squad

Anders Lindegaard; Thomas Sorensen; Daniel Agger; Johnny Thomsen; William Kvist; Simon Kjaer; Per Kroldrup; Leon Jessen; Lars Jacobsen; Thomas Kahlenberg; Michael Silberbauer; Martin Vingaard; Christian Eriksen; Christian Poulsen; Nicklas Pedersen; Morten Skoubo; Michael Krohn-Dehli; Mads Junker; Lasse Schone; Dennis Rommedahl

 

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