PORTO • An unstoppable force will meet an immovable object when Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal clash with Virgil van Dijk's Netherlands for the inaugural Nations League title today.
While there is a rare international trophy at stake, just as fascinating will be the head-to-head battle between two of the finest players in the world - even if this is being played down on the Dutch side.
"We're not just playing against Cristiano Ronaldo," defender van Dijk said after Thursday's 3-1 extra-time semi-final win over England.
"We're playing against an amazing Portugal."
His coach Ronald Koeman agreed and said possession would be the best form of defence against Ronaldo at Porto's Dragao Stadium.
He said: "We know that, sometimes, it's impossible to defend well against Cristiano Ronaldo.
"The best thing we can do is to keep the ball because when we have the ball, he can do nothing in attack."
Van Dijk, who won the Champions League with Liverpool on June 1, was his usual impressive solid self against England, aware of where he needed to be before anyone else. He would arrive, unhurried, and the likes of Marcus Rashford, Raheem Sterling, Jadon Sancho and Harry Kane were duly dispossessed.
Statisticians Opta said no player has dribbled past van Dijk in his last 64 club games before the Nations League. Strong and quick, good in the air and relaxed on the ball, he is the complete defender.
"He deserves the Ballon d'Or," Koeman added.
Van Dijk himself played this down, citing Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi as favourite.
But it is not Messi but his great attacking rival, Ronaldo, that van Dijk will meet today.
Should Portugal retain their 4-4-2 formation from their 3-1 win over Switzerland, there is the mouthwatering prospect of the two matching up for 90 minutes.
Ronaldo, now 34, may not be quite as dominant as before but a magnificent hat-trick, his 53rd, against Switzerland took his side through to the final.
"A football genius" was coach Fernando Santos' view of his talisman while "little Messi" Bernardo Silva said: "We're used to this kind of thing, he's been doing it for ages. It isn't a surprise to anyone now."
The Portuguese media went to town with his return following a post-World Cup break, with the Correio da Manha newspaper declaring "The Return of the King" on its front page.
Captaining Portugal to a trophy at home would be another high point in Ronaldo's incredible career and would vanquish any lingering scars from the Euro 2004 final loss to Greece in Lisbon.
"It's the preparation, my work ethic. I still feel good despite being 34," Ronaldo told uefa.com. "The most important thing is your head, to feel motivated and happy, and to follow my path as a player, because I think I still have a lot to give."
DPA, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Apr 18, 2019 · Pep Guardiola always did get a bit tetchy when people asked him about Manchester City doing the quadruple. On the bright side, he is in the clear now. Although as ever Guardiola will not be
Media Watch: Sterling and De Bruyne hailed - Manchester City FC
Mauricio Pochettino says Harry Kane is making a "fantastic" recovery and could be back in action ahead of schedule following the ankle injury he suffered last month against Manchester United.
Kane making 'fantastic' recovery, says Spurs boss Pochettino
Premier League Match Report for Arsenal v Chelsea on 19 January 2019, includes all goals and incidents. Have your say on the game in the comments.
Proper Gapping Instructions - NGK.com
Football: Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk and Arsenal's Vivianne Miedema win PFA Player of the Year awards Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk (left) and Arsenal's Vivianne Miedema were named the PFA Players
Virgil Van Dijk, Vivianne Miedema pull off Dutch double in
Football: Home United engage youth in MacPherson through photography and sport SINGAPORE - Singapore Premier League club Home United organised a photography exhibition at the MacPherson Community Club (CC) on Saturday (Dec 29), in what was a culmination of a community outreach programme aimed at youth living in MacPherson.
Latest HOME UNITED | The Straits Times
Football: Defending Asian Cup champs Australia downed by
Madrid - Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino is fit for Saturday's Champions League final against Tottenham Hotspur despite missing the end of the Premier League season, manager Jurgen Klopp
Klopp confirms Firmino fitness for Champions League final
A second-half strike from N'Golo Kante was enough for Chelsea to beat Crystal Palace 1-0 in the Premier League and send them five points clear of fifth-placed Arsenal.
Crystal Palace vs Chelsea: Rare N'Golo Kante goal saves Blues
Reds & Toffees win, Blues lose. foxsports Jan 3, 2013 at 6:15a ET . share url email fbmsngr whatsapp sms. Liverpool moved up to eighth in the Premier League table as they
Wigan 0 Everton 1: Tim Cahill heads late winner as Toffees
Aguero penalty gives Man City 1-0 win over West Ham | Free
As his Newport team-mates were celebrating a stunning FA Cup win over Championship side Middlesbrough on Tuesday, goalkeeper Joe Day was sprinting down the tunnel after hearing his wife had gone
It will be a homecoming of sorts for the 34-year-old Ronaldo who lived a stone's throw away from Atletico's training centre. Juventus signed Ronaldo because of his Champions League credentials. No player owns as many Champions League titles as Ronaldo who has won five, four with Real Madrid and one with Manchester United.
Mourinho Just Ended The Ronaldo-Messi Debate Once And For All
A brisk run of form continued for the Red Devils as they huffed past Watford with a 2-1 win at Old Trafford on Saturday. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made quite a statement after being named as the full-time manager of Manchester United. This win has pushed the Red Devils into the top four with Arsenal itching to steal the spot.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hints at Paul Pogba change after Man Utd
Football: Australian female players to earn same base pay as
watch premier league live in stream
watch coppa america live streaming total sportek
free live football streams watch live streaming tv premier league
watch coppa america live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch soccer online free streaming live batman
watch premier league net live manchester united stream channel
watch the premier league live stream
watch champions league live streaming vk
watch coppa america live streaming english
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming free
watch champions league live streaming xbox
watch champions league live streaming cricfree
watch champions league live streaming crictime
watch soccer live streaming juventus
watch coppa america live streaming portugal
watch soccer live stream links
watch soccer live streaming kenya vs ethiopia
watch coppa america live streaming cricfree
watch soccer live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch usa soccer live stream
watch coppa america live streaming tv
how to watch soccer live streaming free
watch premier league live stream hd
how to watch uefa champions league live streaming
super soccer tv live streaming piala dunia
watch sky sports premier league live stream
watch live soccer online free streaming now
watch coppa america live streaming philippines
watch uefa champions league live streaming sportek
watch champions league live streaming live
where to watch premier league live streaming
best site to watch live soccer streaming
watch champions league final live streaming
watch live soccer streaming free android
soccer tv live football streaming portugal
watch soccer live streaming xbox one
watch real madrid vs juventus live streaming of champions league
super soccer tv live streaming garuda select
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming online free
watch champions league live streaming now
live tv soccer live stream - live3s.com
watch soccer online free streaming live espn
watch coppa america live streaming live
watch live stream soccer games online free
watch champions league live streaming zee5
watch soccer live streaming xbox
watch english premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming barcelona
watch premier league live streaming youtube
watch us soccer live stream
watch indian premier league live stream online
watch soccer saturday live stream
watch live english premier league online free streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live cricfree
tv soccer live stream sky
super soccer tv live streaming indonesia
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online youtube
watch coppa america live streaming indosiar
watch coppa america live streaming free
soccer tv live football streaming gratuit
watch indian premier league live streaming
watch champions league online free live streaming hd
watch soccer live streaming kenya
watch soccer online free streaming live p2p
watch soccer online free live streaming hd
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming free online
watch coppa america live streaming video
watch coppa america live streaming xbox
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming australia
watch champions league live streaming bola
watch coppa america live streaming match
watch champions league live streaming juventus
watch champions league live streaming zee tv
watch soccer live stream apk
watch coppa america live streaming world
watch everton vs tottenham live soccer streaming
watch soccer live streaming qatar
super soccer tv live streaming persib
watch soccer online free streaming live youtube
watch barclays premier league online live streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live no registration
watch soccer online free streaming live world cup
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming youtube
watch premier league live streaming video
soccer tv live football streaming reddit
watch coppa america live streaming in india
watch live streaming soccer games
watch champions league live streaming manchester united
watch soccer live streaming qatar vs philippines
#freekickerz #serieatim #boxing #mane #liverpoolfans #golf #footballmemes #myfootballuniverse #Liverpool #nikesoccer #Barcelona #oasisengland #cappucino #433skills #henderson #mensnightout #nutmeg #realmadrid #golazo #fut #meunier #kickoff #Vip45 #americanfootball #manchestercity #roadtrip #kopisusu #ballondor #kroenkeout #arsenalnews #liverpoolcity #acmilan #livesports #gooners #girlsniteout #midnight #barcelona #oasis #soccerbible #leomessi #linkstreaming #livestreams #portsmouthfc #MyDubai #hotcoffee #premierleague #championship #champion #rockstar #football #conference #oudmehta #thebeatles #romania #footballmeme #lovefootball #Barca #winner #manchesterunited #juventus #footballstreaming #coyg #coys #BMW #klopp #Bar #panini #pagani #mancityvsliverpool #manunited #gunners #calciatoribrutti #cristianoronaldo #nationsleague #londoncity #battuteepiche #lionelmessi #villarealcf #valcea #football #Sunday #fcbarcelona #soccer #zidane #transfernews
No comments:
Post a Comment