Ronaldo has scored hat-tricks against De Gea, Manuel Neuer and Jan Oblack. Three of the world's best goalkeepers. And at 33 and 130 days is the oldest player to score a WC hat-trick
Been out at the Minack Theatre down here in Cornwall. Sounds like I missed a cracker! Was it 3-3 and did Ronaldo score a hat trick?
Here's a nice story ... Jose Ignacio Fernandez Iglesias is better known as the Real Madrid full back Nacho. He was the scorer of Spain's third goal tonight v Portugal. At the age of ten he was signed up by the club. When he was twelve years old he was about to play in a junior tournament but he didn't feel right. He had this constant feeling of needing to pee and was drinking lots of water. His mother was worried as he was going to be away for five days so she contacted the hospital and arranged tests. His blood sugar levels were through the roof and he was diagnosed with ( type 1 ) diabetes. He then had to take five insulin injections a day to stay alive. This was on a Friday in 2002 and the doctors told him that there was no way he could continue playing football and he had no chance he could emulate his idols Fernando Hierro and Zinedine Zidane. On the Monday he went back into the hospital and he saw a different doctor, Dr Ramirez,' he explains, and there is warmth in his voice when he says that second doctor’s name. 'I was so happy because he said that the opposite was true. He said that sport was the most important thing for me and I had to carry on playing and competing. 'It wasn't true that my condition meant I couldn't be a sportsman. And here I am still fighting.' Nine years later Jose Mourinho gave him his Real Madrid debut. Zidane is now ( was ) his manager and Fernando Hierro is his national manager. He's on his way to Kiev for his third European Cup final and then off to Russia with Spain. please log in to view this image please log in to view this image
I watched from about 30 mins in. Just turned 1-1. I was dozing a bit, but paid proper attention to the 2nd half. Spain were sublime at times, short, quick passes, triangles moving and pivoting themselves around the pitch. Always an option, speed of thought and mutual understanding almost perfect, like they were performing a well rehearsed routine. Every player completely at ease and capable of a trick to get past someone. They play a different game to us. Portugal will be happier with the point. They're undoubtedly good, but they were up against magicians at times. Say what you like about ronaldo, I've never met him, so have no idea about his character, as with every footballer ever, but he is lethal. Unrivalled ability, firepower, attitude. Great match. Watch a good 10 mins or so of highlights.
Just seen Ronaldo's free kick. The man is a footballing genius. But it's not just having the ability to do that, it's having the ability to do it in the World Cup, with a minute to go and trailing 2-3!!!! An extraordinary talent.
He had had 44 practice goes. https://www.fourfourtwo.com/sg/news/ronaldo-finally-scores-major-tournament-set-piece-45th-attempt It was an incredible moment, though.
Most perfect free kick I think I have ever seen...he put it/ bent it into in the only place that could beat the wall and then the keeper... I need to see Beckham's kick against Greece to see if it compares Sent from my STF-L09 using Tapatalk
Of course there is no chance that FIFA, with its mission to have every country in the World at the WC Finals, will ponder that the luck of the draw helped to create this great match. Two very good teams which knew that a win yesterday would have virtually guaranteed an easy ride to the next round and the chance to rest some players. Spain were always going to play their beautiful game, and Portugal, contrary to what I expected, were fully committed to the fast counter attack in numbers, knowing that they couldn’t compete for possession. A first group game that meant something and was worth taking a risk to win, when most of them will feature at least one team who’s big objective for the whole tournament is not to lose. Expanding this competition just makes it longer, not better. What about a 24 team tournament, 8 groups of 3 with just the winner of each going through to the QF? Mix the qualifying groups up so that they are truly international, not regional, so that if an Asian or African team gets through they will have beaten a European and South American one and be value for their place? Nah, no money in it. While I hope Mass has a great tournament I expect the Aussies to try and shut up shop against France, and if they do I hope the French just cut free and really go for it.
Love him or loathe him, (I do neither) a footballing legend. My wife - not huge footie fan - noticed that he looked lean and mean.
Flukiest hat trick ever. Shouldn’t have been a penalty, howler from DeGea, and a huge looping deflection off the wall. Still, some people need a little motivation when reaching for the tissues I guess. (He’s clearly a great player as well as a convicted tax cheat, but don’t get carried away after such a lucky performance)
I have to say Willy I look on everything you post with a sense of awe and wonderment that someone actually, demonstrably, does live in a universe which is parallel to the one I currently inhabit.
Luongo is on the bench against France. Perhaps It is good for us as it is less of a shop window? But probably very dissapointing for him.
