Tom Oldfield
How much better can he get? It is a very good question. Cristiano Ronaldo enters Euro 2008 as the hottest property in world football and all eyes will be fixed on him as he attempts to lead Portugal to tournament glory.
After driving Manchester United to the 2006/07 title – seemingly single-handedly at times – some felt they had seen Ronaldo at his peak. Defences will be wise to him now, they said. They were wrong.
He topped his 2006/07 heroics with a scintillating campaign in which he scored more than 40 goals and clinched both the Premier League crown and the Champions League trophy. He is still just 23.
But can he now transfer that domestic form into success on the international stage? How much is left in the tank after playing almost 50 games for United this season? Can he do the business without the supporting cast of Paul Scholes, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez?
All the answers will be forthcoming when Euro 2008 kicks off on Saturday. The month of June is destined to fly by but by the end we will be able to draw yet more conclusions about Ronaldo. He is already a hero in his homeland so it is hard to imagine the response if the winger manages to inspire a triumph in Austria and Switzerland.
He has never lacked confidence and will surely feel Portugal can go all the way at the tournament. Their manager Luiz Felipe Scolari certainly thinks they can. But the rest of us must wait and see whether Ronaldo can deliver yet again.
He carries such a burden of responsibility for Portugal – even more than when representing United – that he will need every remaining ounce of strength and touch of brilliance to achieve his targets. But anyone who has watched him play over the last few years will know that you write him off at your peril.
Ronaldo was Portugal’s leading scorer in qualification, netting eight times, and he will again be expected to chip in with a healthy number of goals. The 4-2-3-1 formation allows him the freedom to express himself and, with the team still lacking a proven, world class striker, he will pose the biggest threat to opponents. This will ensure close monitoring at all times, probably in the form of man marking, and plenty of aggressive tackling.
If you are looking for indications of how Ronaldo will deal with the massive pressure and expectation, there are plenty of signs that suggest he will thrive on it rather than shy away. He went into Euro 2004 as a likely reserve, tipped to possibly enjoy a few substitute appearances to sample the atmosphere. In no time, he had burst into the starting line-up and, with Portugal hosting the competition, Ronaldo won the hearts of the home crowds. He did as much as anyone to push Portugal towards the trophy. The defeat to Greece in the final was a devastating blow but it has made him stronger and more determined to succeed.
The 2006 World Cup in Germany was a similar story as Ronaldo further enhanced his reputation as a massive talent. He was Portugal’s star man. While their run to the semi-finals was based on a solid defensive effort, he was the focal point in attack. Any fears that he would be a red card candidate in heated situations were discarded. He even played impressively after the controversial dismissal of Wayne Rooney which earned him constant booing from incensed supporters.
Looking ahead again to Euro 2008, Portugal’s group should pose relatively few problems. The likes of Ronaldo, Deco and Ricardo Carvalho seem far too experienced to let complacency creep in. They are a very professional outfit and ought to see off the Czech Republic, Switzerland and Turkey.
The biggest fear for Portugal fans is that Ronaldo will either be too weary after his heroics at club level or he will overdo things, believing he must be the man to create everything for the team. He must simply concentrate on his own game because there are enough talented players around him to pull Portugal through tough situations.
Having missed penalties in two crucial games towards the end of the season with United – in the Nou Camp in Barcelona and in the Champions League final against Chelsea in Moscow – will Ronaldo still take spot-kicks? Many would take a step back from the thought of more penalties, but not him. He looks set to hold on to the penalty-taking responsibilities. After all, he was cool, calm and collected in Germany in 2006 when his spot-kick eliminated England in the quarter-final shootout.
Incredibly, despite playing on the wing, he is among the favourites to be the top scorer at Euro 2008 and this speaks volumes for his goalscoring prowess. Most bookmakers have placed him in the company of recognised strikers such as Ruud van Nistelrooy, Fernando Torres and Thierry Henry. Some even have Ronaldo above these forwards. Expectation is very high.
Love him or loathe him, Ronaldo is, without doubt, a phenomenal footballer. Winning Euro 2008 is his priority this summer but he will do his best to entertain crowds in the process. So sit back, relax and enjoy the show.