The Portuguese public want to know whether Cristiano Ronaldo, the world's most expensive player, will translate his tremendous club form into performances for his national side at the World Cup. Almost a year since his £80 million (Dh424m) move from Manchester United to Real Madrid, Ronaldo can feel satisfied with his impact in Spain. Real ran Barcelona close to the Primera Liga title and ultimately ended the season without a trophy, but the Portuguese winger was their player of the season, scoring an outstanding 26 goals in 28 league games.
Real fans were quickly enamoured with Ronaldo's desire to go past players and shoot on sight: he had 211 efforts on goal last season, Real's next prolific shooter achieved 98. That he also suffered 50 per cent more fouls than any other Real player illustrated how opponents view him as the Whites' danger man. He did not touch the highs nor win the trophies of Lionel Messi, but unlike two of Real's other expensive big name signings - Kaka and Karim Benzema - he vindicated the hype.
This is in marked contrast to his contributions for his country. Ronaldo's last competitive goal for Portugal was against the Czech Republic in Euro 2008. In the seven World Cup qualifying games he started, the Portugal captain, 25, failed to find the net despite being supported by a talented band of attacking players including Simao Sabrosa, the vice-captain, Deco and Nani. Portugal have not had a regular goalscorer up front and were dismal in qualification, winning just one of their first five group games before improving to scrape a play-off spot. They overcame Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-0 home and away to reach their third successive World Cup finals. History was not on their side.
Before 2002, Portugal had reached the World Cup just once since 1966's great side starring Eusebio, the Benfica legend. Portugal are in a tough group with their former colony of Brazil, Ivory Coast and North Korea. Semi-finalists under Luiz Felipe Scolari in 2006, they have been a force in international football over the last decade, raising expectations at the same time that their form began to dip.
Carlos Quieroz, their coach, is unpopular. He was booed by fans after Portugal's friendly against China in Coimbra in March, with players complaining that his tactics are baffling and that he acts like a teacher rather than someone on their wavelength. Older members of the squad pine for the happier atmosphere created by the genial Scolari, but the Portuguese federation appear content that Portugal are ranked 3rd in the world and have contracted Quieroz until 2012, so he is likely to stay.
His employers are sending out a confusing message though, with Gilberto Madail, the Portuguese Football Association president, publicly demanding that Portugal improve on their best-ever- performance - third place in 1966. Ronaldo is one of the few players to enjoy a positive relationship with his coach. The pair worked fruitfully together at Manchester United, where Quieroz was the assistant coach, and the Mozambique-born manager has been a confidant and father figure since Ronaldo's own father passed away.
Ronaldo led United to two consecutive Champions League finals and has the ability to be a match winner against the strongest opponents, but his own role in the national side is uncertain. He has played on the wing in a 4-3-3 system with the naturalised Liedson, who was born in Brazil, at centre-forward. But sometimes he has played behind the striker in a 4-4-2 formation. Ronaldo was a peripheral figure in Monday's embarrassing 0-0 draw against Cape Verde, ranked 117th in the world, in Covilha, but he was not concerned.
"We are only at the beginning, it was just a warm-up match to get us into shape," Ronaldo told reporters after the game. "Of course we wanted to win, but I am sure that we will be better come the World Cup. We will improve both physically and psychologically, and we will show that we are an excellent side." His public are not convinced and expect much better in Portugal's remaining friendlies against Cameroon and Mozambique before the World Cup in South Africa starts on June 11. sports@thenational.ae
Goalkeepers: Eduardo (Braga), Daniel Fernandes (Iraklis), Beto (FC Porto); Defenders: Miguel (Valencia), Paulo Ferreira (Chelsea), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea), Bruno Alves (FC Porto), Rolando (FC Porto), Ricardo Costa (Lille), Duda (Malaga), Fabio Coentrao (Benfica); Midfielders: Pedro Mendes (Sporting), Pepe (Real Madrid), Ze Castro (Deportivo La Coruna), Tiago (Atletico Madrid), Deco (Chelsea), Raul Meireles (FC Porto), Miguel Veloso (Sporting); Forwards: Simao Sabrosa (Atletico Madrid), Danny (Zenit St Petersburg), Liedson (Sporting), Hugo Almeida (Werder Bremen), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Nani (Manchester United) Correction: This article was altered on May 27. Portugal's best World Cup finish was third in 1966. They are also third in Fifa's World Rankings for May.
