As Portugal prepare to take on Spain in the semi-final of their EURO 2012 campaign, Ronaldo is in the spot light once again. It is thought that the Portuguese winger will be http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Portugal-c2984’s hero once again and should that happen,
it would spell an end to the criticism that has been aimed at Ronaldo which accuses him of underperforming for Portugal...
As Portugal prepare to take on http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Spain-c3011 in the semi-final of their EURO 2012 campaign, one cannot help but rewind back to the FIFA 2006 World Cup where Portugal were knocked out at the semi-final stage by Zinedine Zidane’s hands.
Ronaldo was a part of that side which defeated http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/England-c749 in the quarterfinals albeit via a penalty shootout but what needs to be remembered is that Ronaldo was actually one of the best players for the Portuguese in that tournament in Germany.
The former Manchester United star was youthful back then and had a tendency to go down all too easily as well but it is for his tricks and spins that he is best remembered for. As Portugal’s old guard retired Ronaldo has been
asked to step up in the aftermath of that World Cup.
His first big chance to prove himself as a star player for Portugal came in the 2008 European Championships where Portugal failed to impress and were duly sent packing in the quarterfinals by a fine German side. Ronaldo was disappointing
but he was offered another chance of redemption at the biggest stage of them all when Portugal qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
This time around, the Real Madrid forward was gunning to show the world that he was just as capable of firing at the international stage as he was when taking the field for Real Madrid in La Liga. Nonetheless, anti-climax set in
as Portugal were humbled by Spain at the round of 16. Now Ronaldo has been given another chance at a time when comparisons between him and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ronaldo-c31734 has already made somewhat of an impact.
In the group stages of the 2012 EUROs, Ronaldo scored twice for Portugal to knockout http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Netherlands-c753 and book their place in the last eight teams of the tournament. In the quarterfinals, the Real Madrid goal scorer came good once again
with a flying header to set up a replay of the 2010 FIFA World Cup round of 16 tie against the Spanish national team.
There is no arguing that Spain will be Portugal’s toughest test so far even though they did draw against http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Germany-c2904 in the very first match of the tournament. Ronaldo will be required to up his game and take the game by the scruff
of the neck. If the former Manchester United winger is able to do that, then Portugal have a very good chance of surprising a Spanish side which has looked fatigued in their last two fixtures.
Ronaldo can stretch them and in doing so make a name for himself and carve himself out as a legendary figure as far as Portugal are concerned. Last time, Portugal reached the semi-finals of a major competition, it all ended in
tears for http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Cristiano-Ronaldo-c9629. This time around though, he has the chance to change that and take his team to their second European Championships’ final in less than a decade.
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