Agencies
Lyon, July 5: It will be virgin territory for Wales when they face Portugal in the Euro 2016 semifinals yet their opponents could be forgiven a sense of deja vu as they step on to the pitch at the Stade des Lumieres here Wednesday.
This will be Portugal’s fourth semifinal in the last five editions of the competition stretching back to 2000, but for all their success in reaching the latter stages of the tournament, there has been little glory along the way.
Only once have they overcome the last four hurdle and then they were beaten in the final by Greece as hosts at Euro 2004. It was Cristiano Ronaldo’s first Euro Championships.
Since then, however, much water has flown between Portugal and Wales. The presence of Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo in Wales and Portugal has taken the present fixture to astronomical proportions. And currently, the battle of supremacy is not limited between the two countries, it has also encompassed the two Real Madrid mates who work in tandem upfront for their club.
Other than losing in the final of the 2004 Euros, Portugal have also lost in the semifinals of the 2006 World Cup as well as in the 1984 edition of the Euro Championships. So they are more or less aware of the pitfalls associated in playing such a big match and would certainly like to avoid the repetition of humiliation.
But then Portugal have stuttered and stuttered while the Welsh brigade, led admirably from the front has put out some amazing displays. Their victory over Belgium in the quarterfinals certainly makes them favourites against the Portuguese and Wales would certainly want the momentum to continue for them for two more games.
“It is not just about me, Cristiano (Ronaldo) or any other individual,” stated Bale while interacting briefly with the reporters here. “It is about the country. We’ve never had a major trophy and we would certainly like to erase that malady.”
Wales are arguably the form team coming into the match. Chris Coleman’s side have revelled in their underdog status to win their group, which also included England, Russia and Slovakia, ease out British rivals Northern Ireland in the last 16 and sweep past heavy favourites Belgium in the quarters.
Portugal are yet to win a match at the tournament inside 90 minutes, having drawn all three group games, beaten Croatia in extra time and squeezed past Poland on penalties.
Yet Portugal are unbeaten in 12 competitive internationals since Fernando Santos took over as coach at the start of the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign.
With Ronaldo’s Real Madrid team mate Pepe marshalling an increasingly assured defence, they will be tough to break down.
Especially for a Wales side deprived of one of their most talented creative influences in midfielder Aaron Ramsey, who will be suspended after picking up a booking in the win over Belgium.
While Gareth Bale has been Wales’s attacking talisman, scoring three times to lift them out of their group, Ramsey has been arguably their most influential player, scoring one and producing four assists in the run to the last four.
A real titanic battle looms large.
Bale will not toll for CR7
Reuters
Lyon, July 5: One is an ‘Eau de toilette’ kind of character, the other more ‘wake up and smell the coffee’. Cristiano Ronaldo is immaculately groomed, makes a point of posing for the cameras when he scores, is often captured scowling at his colleagues and recently launched his own men’s fragrance called ‘Legacy’.
Gareth Bale is constantly encouraging his teammates and is described by his manager as ‘the most down-to-earth boy you could meet.’
The world’s two most expensive footballers, who play alongside each other at Real Madrid, will go head-to-head when Bale’s Wales meet Ronaldo’s Portugal in their Euro 2016 semifinal Wednesday.
In playing terms, both are the leaders of their teams but they take very different approaches to their role. While Bale is widely acclaimed as an inspiration for his national team, Ronaldo’s influence on Portugal is the subject of debate. Ronaldo’s teammates routinely leap to his defence and emphasise that he is always working for them. “Cristiano has worked for the squad and it’s the only the squad which matters here,” said midfielder Andre Gomes.
“Maybe people were expecting more goals, (but) he has made a huge contribution to the national team and it’s not the moment to start questioning a player or his abilities,” he added.
Coach Fernando Santos asserted that Ronaldo has sacrificed himself for the team. “He is an example, as captain, of the spirit of this team, of this team’s determination, he wants to do well and he wants to win, in this aspect he has been fantastic,” said Santos.
Even so, the 31-year-old three times ‘World Player of the Year’ has often struggled with an image problem, especially when he said two years ago that Portugal needed ‘two or three Cristiano Ronaldos’. In France, he has studiously avoided all press conferences conducted by his team.
Bale, in comparison, has taken part in at least four, looks relaxed, and is not afraid to stir up some controversy such as when he said that no England players would get into the Wales side, adding that Wales were more passionate than their larger neighbours. Television images tend to show him encouraging his teammates rather than gesticulating angrily and complaining.
“They are obviously different types of people and different characters,” said Wales manager Chris Coleman. “Whatever Bale brings to the table for us, that’s him. He’s not manufactured. He doesn’t try to be something he’s not. Gareth is clearly a special player.”
