The expert believes that you don’t dare to sideline the star player – that’s the effect it has

Against weak Uzbekistan, Ronaldo scored two goals, but otherwise the production has been non-existent. For example, in the final game of the group stage against Colombia, he was one of the worst players on the field.

Portugal made it to the playoffs in second place from Group K, and in their opening round, they will face tough Croatia, Finland, on Friday at 2:00.

Expert Tuukka Kotimäki believes that the season ticket of Ronaldo, who has played poorly, should be kept in the starting line-up. Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez does not dare to leave his star player aside.

“I just don’t see such a possibility. It would be a huge surprise. It would be rationally very understandable, but I would be really surprised if that happened,” says Kotimäki.

“It would have happened a long time ago if it was meant to happen. Yes, Martinez has shown it for several years now that he does not dare to make that decision.”

Portugal’s attacking play has been relatively monotonous precisely because they try to play balls to Ronaldo. Against well-defensive countries, it has not been successful yet.

“Ronaldo should justify his starting position only with goals. That’s a cold fact,” says Kotimäki.

“However, he doesn’t offer anything in attacks other than a direct box threat. If he doesn’t hit in hard games, then of course it’s completely justified to ask” if he even belongs in the starting line-up.

Home hill reminds that there is no directly better alternative to Ronaldo’s playing spot.

However, Portugal’s attacking play has been very poor, and with Ronaldo, the team has been ineffective.

“If, and most likely when Portugal attacks in such a way that their main form of progression or model is to look for Ronaldo with crosses, then I don’t think that playing Ronaldo is profitable,” the expert estimated.

“When comparing center forwards, Ronaldo is still Portugal’s number one option despite everything. That says a lot about Portugal the main place the weakness of the material.”

Portugal would now need radical tactical changes if they want to succeed in the World Cup.

Great at Manchester United Bruno Fernandes should get more central to playing.

“Martinez would be able to organize the attacking game so that, for example, Fernandes could use his own strengths much more. He could also play on the wings, rush into the goal posts himself from the second wave. He finishes well with one touch.”

“Then, through various rotations, you would already have superior forces in the middle lanes, and Portugal would be able to move the opponents more. Then I would see it as reasonable that Ronaldo is there only as a pure boxing threat.”

“But at the moment, the presence of Ronaldo makes Portugal’s attack one-sided”, then its place in the starting line-up should not be clear.

Our team of bearing superstars, for example Harry Kane offends by the fact that he tries to make the best possible decisions for the England team. Ronaldo seems to play more for himself.

In the Croatia match, Kotimäki also sees opportunities for Ronaldo’s success. In an ideal situation, the Portuguese can still achieve great things.

“If you can play balls for him in reasonable situations so that, for example, the move he makes to the front area is the best run and good balls are played into it, then there can be a result. That game in Uzbekistan, despite the opponent, showed” how good a finisher he still is.

Portugal is the early favorite against Croatia, but Croatia is a really strong opponent. So strong that it can frustrate Ronaldo.

“You can expect him to get frustrated and spread his hands if, for example, he doesn’t get those balls. If he doesn’t get them, then he drains from the attack even at the worst to the level of toppers. and looks for balls and passes almost from his feet. He just wants to be able to participate in the game in those moments without it making a decisive difference in terms of the dynamics of the game.”

“Which side of Ronaldo will we see today”, it’s quite interesting.