The Ronaldo case is bringing out the worst aspects of football’s tribalism, with reactions driven by club loyalties over any consideration of the human beings involved Cristiano Ronaldo scored a goal on Saturday. Not one that is likely to be remembered, among the almost 700 he has scored in his career, though the technique was exemplary. Running on to a Mario Mandzukic pass that was moving across his body 12 yards from goal, the Portuguese took the shot on first-time – drilling it into the bottom corner with his notionally weaker left foot.That strike sealed a 2-0 win over Udinese, and marked another dominant performance from a player who looks ever more comfortable in a Juventus shirt. Ronaldo dovetailed superbly...
To pay such a sum for a player surely past his peak seems a risk but the Italian champions have not made many mistakes latelyCristiano Ronaldo described it in matter-of-fact terms as “the moment to begin a new cycle”. In Italy the headline writers went a little bigger as they hailed Juventus’s capture of the Portugal forward as “the deal of the century”.Even the club’s most optimistic supporters might not have dreamed such a thing possible at the start of this summer. A five-times Ballon d’Or winner coming to Turin? No Serie A player had even finished among the top three vote winners for that award since Kaká won it in 2007. Related: Cristiano Ronaldo joining Juventus in €100m deal...
The tournament used to make its own stars but is now overdue an outstanding, trophy-winning individual performanceMoscow is a fascinating place to enter for the first time, its fringes marked by an endless scroll of huge stickle-brick buildings and gaudy roadside shopping complexes. Heading in from this angle, before the austere majesty of the city centre, it seems the chief beneficiary of Russia’s great opening out was that well-known US imperialist Colonel Sanders, who can be seen grinning down like Lenin’s crispy-fried southern gentleman cousin from his endless lighted placards, impassive, stoical and oddly comforting.But then, like many other nations, Russia does love an icon. Look around the early days of this World Cup and certain faces just keep looming...
Portugal captain’s hat-trick could jump-start the World Cup on its own but it was one of many subplots in the 3-3 draw with SpainAge shall not wither him nor custom stale his infinite variety. Ruthless Ronnie was at it again, his 51st career hat-trick topped off with a superlative last knockings free-kick hit with a new technique. Alongside that there was the pace he should have lost five years ago, an efficacy of action that bordered on the supreme and the spatial awareness of a quantity surveyor. The Portugal captain gave a display that was enough to jump-start the World Cup in and of itself. But the delight of this match was that his performance was only one of many...
Expect some sparkling fare from two great clubs who between them have claimed almost a third of all European CupsIls sont les meilleurs.Sie sind die Besten. Related: Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino: shy, strong-willed – and a complete striker Related: Joker, thinker, friend, dictator: the many faces of Jürgen Klopp Related: ‘I don’t feel like an underdog’: Jürgen Klopp eager for Real redemption Continue reading...