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Evolving Cristiano Ronaldo Has Chance to Exorcise the Ghosts of 12 Years Ago
Published: July 7, 2016
Ronaldo was named man of the match for his part in the semi-final win over Wales on Wednesday, but this was another game in which his contribution was minimalistic.
Of course, he was vital to Portugal winning, scoring the opener with a powerful header and then seeing his mis-hit shot teeing up Nani for their second goal. But the reason Portugal have reached the final is less him—potent as he is in the final third—than the solidity of the midfield and defence after manager Fernando Santos’ rejig following the group stage.
This is Ronaldo 2.0, a player evolving his game as age begins to sap at his 31-year-old legs. He is not the twinkling winger of old. He is not the surging, all-round attacking machine of his absolute peak. He has become a player who haunts the final third, a great goalscorer, a dangerous and effective slab of muscle.
There were times in this tournament when he resembled almost an old-fashioned English centre-forward, all shoulders and neck and explosive pace, a Lusophone Jackie Milburn for our times.
Two of his three goals in the tournament have come from towering headers. Take a silhouette of his hang and his body-shape as he powered in the goal against Wales and it could have been Tommy Lawton. Yet it always feels as though there’s a “but” lingering.
His goals have all come from superb finishes. Ricardo Quaresma got the winner against Croatia off a rebound from one of his shots, and it was his mis-hit shot that Nani turned in for the second against Wales. But around the moments of profound effectiveness,...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football
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