Game 2: Portugal v Spain
Iron Man - 3 v CR7 - 3
Wow, wow and thrice wow - this was the best World Cup group game I can remember seeing. Spain didn’t seem too perturbed by the departure of Lopetegui earlier in the week and his replacement by Hierro (it’s “iron” in Spanish, you know) and Portugal had Cristiano Ronaldo on hand to dig them out of a hole. This was the main course on Friday evening and it did not disappoint.
Portugal lined up with Jose Fortune and little Cedric Soares at the back and took an early lead after Spain’s Nacho Man (more on him later) dutifully accepted a trademark Ronaldo lollipop and gave CR7 an excuse to fall over his leg. Ronaldo never looked like missing the penalty and stuck it away with relish.
Jamie “Isco” Redknapp had a great game for Spain as they calmly grew into the match and recovered from the early shock. Midway through the first half, Costa got the equaliser virtually single-handed, holding off Pepe, Fonte and Soares while he stuck the ball away.
It seemed that the teams would go into half-time on an equal footing but Ronaldo managed to embarrass the normally reliable De Gea, who is supposed to have been unsettled by the departure of Lopetegui to Real Madrid, the club that covets him so.
Again, Spain refused to be denied, despite the difficult timing of the goal. Ten minutes into the second half Costa scored again and shortly after Nacho Cuco Martina-ed the ball into the far corner from the edge of the box. It was superb goal and a great way to atone for his earlier error.
Iniesta, who had been combining well with the brilliant Isco, went off and the game seemed to be heading for a Spain victory until Portugal were awarded a free kick with a couple of minutes to go. Ronaldo stepped up and finally managed to score a free kick. He’s supposed to be a nice bloke off the pitch but I can’t stand his self-aggrandising style on it. Even I had to admit that it was a great free-kick and he single-handedly bridged the gulf in class between the two sides.
Now the World Cup has really got going.
Wow, wow and thrice wow - this was the best World Cup group game I can remember seeing. Spain didn’t seem too perturbed by the departure of Lopetegui earlier in the week and his replacement by Hierro (it’s “iron” in Spanish, you know) and Portugal had Cristiano Ronaldo on hand to dig them out of a hole. This was the main course on Friday evening and it did not disappoint.
Portugal lined up with Jose Fortune and little Cedric Soares at the back and took an early lead after Spain’s Nacho Man (more on him later) dutifully accepted a trademark Ronaldo lollipop and gave CR7 an excuse to fall over his leg. Ronaldo never looked like missing the penalty and stuck it away with relish.
Jamie “Isco” Redknapp had a great game for Spain as they calmly grew into the match and recovered from the early shock. Midway through the first half, Costa got the equaliser virtually single-handed, holding off Pepe, Fonte and Soares while he stuck the ball away.
It seemed that the teams would go into half-time on an equal footing but Ronaldo managed to embarrass the normally reliable De Gea, who is supposed to have been unsettled by the departure of Lopetegui to Real Madrid, the club that covets him so.
Again, Spain refused to be denied, despite the difficult timing of the goal. Ten minutes into the second half Costa scored again and shortly after Nacho Cuco Martina-ed the ball into the far corner from the edge of the box. It was superb goal and a great way to atone for his earlier error.
Iniesta, who had been combining well with the brilliant Isco, went off and the game seemed to be heading for a Spain victory until Portugal were awarded a free kick with a couple of minutes to go. Ronaldo stepped up and finally managed to score a free kick. He’s supposed to be a nice bloke off the pitch but I can’t stand his self-aggrandising style on it. Even I had to admit that it was a great free-kick and he single-handedly bridged the gulf in class between the two sides.
Now the World Cup has really got going.
