Poland v Portugal. Or to put it more accurately: Robert Lewandowski v Cristiano Ronaldo.
The pre-match build up was dominated by talk of the nation’s respective talismans. Whoever performed better was likely to take their country through to the semi-finals. In the end, both were largely on the periphery of what was an even, at and at times exciting affair. Despite this, the manner in which they played and conducted themselves was very different.
Lewandowski was immediately in the game. A neat ball from Kamil Grosicki found the Pole unmarked in the box. Despite the pre-match pressure on his shoulders he calmly slotted home for his first goal of the tournament.
Nerves calmed, Lewandowski seemed content to play the team game; holding the ball up and playing it to team mates in more advantageous positions. He played the backseat role, away from the limelight with aplomb. His regular runs in between Pepe and Jose Fonte leaving space for attacking midfielder Milik, who with a bit more composure could’ve scored a hat-trick.
Ronaldo, on the other hand, was more interested in being the centre of attention; throwing himself on the floor, gesticulating to the referee and showboating at every opportunity. Standard Cristiano Ronaldo you may say, it’s all part of the show. Or is it an attitude that has had a detrimental effect on the players around him?
Aside from the refreshing exuberance of 18 year old Renato Sanches, who scored a wonderful goal after a one-two with Nani, Portugal’s players seemed nervous and rigid, afraid of taking chances rather than expressing themselves. This has been one of their major flaws throughout the tournament, but in this game it was even more evident. Are they afraid of upsetting the maestro or do they lack the quality? Looking at the standard of player on the team sheet it is far more likely to be the former.
However it was the lack of quality from the man himself which was notable. Two incidents spring to mind from the game: the first, a free kick in the 16th minute, just the right of the goal, 30 yards out -Ronaldo territory. The routine strides back from the ball, the puff of the chest and as has become customary at this tournament, a lacklustre effort into the middle of the wall. Ronaldo has never scored from a free kick in a national tournament. His Real Madrid teammate Gareth Bale scored two in his first two games.
The second, an excellent chance in the last ten minutes: played onside by Artur Jedrzejczyk from a through ball, all he had to do was make contact. He failed. Ronaldo had plenty of chances to win the game for his side, but failed to take any of them.
Whilst the game was decided by the lottery of a penalty shoot and Portugal made it through, they and Ronaldo would do well to look at Poland’s approach. If they are to go any further they will have to become more of a team and not rely on the individual.
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