Ronaldo: A lack of teamwork
on Team Portugal puts all the pressure on
him. Luckily for
Portugal, that sufficed for a 2-2 tie with the Team USA.
Postmortem: vs. USA, Portugal 'Physically Unprepared,' Poor Teamwork
(Sol, Portugual)
"The team is physically unprepared and unable to react energetically to the atmospheric
conditions [86 degrees with high humidity]. ... The
head doesn't work, and only in case of emergency does it feed the body with 'fuel'
- like in the beginning of the match, and after the U.S. ran up the scoreboard.
... there is no idea of playing the game with this team: it is each doing his
own thing, and in case of trouble, 'let's see where Ronaldo is.'"
Defensive midfielder Jermaine Jones puts Team USA ahead of Portugal 2-1. The lead didn't hold, but the Americans have already performed beyond expectations. If they can manage a draw against Germany on Thurdsay, they will reach the next round. Until the final, there remains almost three weeks to go.
There
isn't much to say regarding the second game of the World Cup against the United
States.
I
will stick with the central issues:
1)
The game against Germany was not, after all, an accident along the way [Germany
won 4-0];
2)
The team is physically unprepared and unable to react energetically to the atmospheric
conditions [86 degrees with high humidity];
3)
The head doesn't work, and only in case of emergency does it feed the body with
“fuel” - like in the beginning of the match, and after the U.S. ran up the
scoreboard;
4)
Is this why the ball “burns” the feet of so many players? What's certain is that
there is no idea of playing the game with this team: it is each doing his own
thing, and in case of trouble, “let’s see where Ronaldo is”;
6) FábioCoentrão’s injury
showed that Paulo Bento’s critics were right: neither André Almeida or Miguel Veloso are able to occupy the left side of the defense at
this level of play. Among the 23 players there is no alternative;
7)
The coached wanted to take men he trusted to the World Cup, and I have no problem
with that. But he risked it all by choosing half a team that's all tied up, and
he paid dearly for it;
8)
If Portugal can't outrun Ghana, they'll be trampled in their farewell to
Brazil.
