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
The latter hit the winner in the Bhoy's 2-0 win over Kilmarnock last time out and will be looking to add to his tally and fire his side to SPL glory. Punters looking to back Celtic all the way would see £79.06 returns off a £10 bet on the Hoops to both win the second half in the match against Hearts and go on to lift the SPL trophy.
Sportpesa Premier League - spl.co.ke
Football > Champions League. VIDEO - Luis Suarez: Barcelona 'looked like schoolboys' Luis Suarez said his team mates defended like children for the fourth goal they conceded in a shock 4-0
'We looked like schoolboys', says Luis Suarez after Barcelona
Willian eager to stay at Chelsea despite exit rumours. By. Willian has been repeatedly linked with a move away from Chelsea but he was adamant he wanted to stay at the west London club
Willian eager to stay at Chelsea despite exit rumours | IOL
Feb 15, 2018 · Editorial: Ban California kids from playing Pop Warner football A good case can even be made that tackle football should be banned at all public schools. New H-2B publication rules would
The ban on Iranian women attending men's soccer matches has
Maurizio Sarri has been unfairly criticised this season and needs time and trust to succeed at Chelsea, according to Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. The Chelsea head coach was appointed at Stamford
Football news - Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink backs Maurizio Sarri
FIFA president Gianni Infantino is set to serve a second term after world football's governing body - headquartered in Zürich - said on Wednesday February 5th he would be the only candidate for June's vote.
Infantino sole candidate for FIFA presidency in June vote
Confident Real stroll to fourth straight win. Sport Police seek DNA from football star Ronaldo in rape inquiry Sport Andy Murray says Australian Open could be his last tournament
Confident Real stroll to fourth straight win | US Sports Guru
Aloysius Pang's eldest brother collects actor's ashes from
Investigators searching for a lost plane carrying Premier League player Emiliano Sala said on Wednesday an underwater search would begin after they found two seat cushions on the French coast that
Debris From Soccer Player Emiliano Sala's Missing Plane Found
Molly Parker has had a busy week, navigating a press tour for the home release of Lost in Space's first season (on which she plays Maureen Robinson) while the long-awaited Deadwood movie, in which
Pep Guardiola is confident his achievements at Manchester City will not be tarnished by UEFA's investigation into alleged Financial Fair Play (FFP) breaches and trusted the club to resolve the
Guardiola trusts Man City to resolve FFP allegations - Reuters
The last encounter between Home United and Young Lions was a feisty affair that ended on a sour note. Will there be more of the same when they clash this Wednesday in the SPL? Having let slip two
Shawal strikes for Geylang to make it seven SPL defeats for
Objectives Raheem Sterling has scored in his final three video games for England. He had not managed a single aim in his earlier 27 appearances. "Raheem was brilliant, electric all night," Southgate mentioned. "He is in a very assured second, not solely on the sphere however off the sphere he is so mature and cozy in himself.
'Electric' Sterling has boss purring - theworldnews.net
watch the champions league live stream
watch coppa america live streaming reddit
watch soccer online free streaming live first row
watch champions league live streaming eng
watch champions league live streaming bt sport
watch coppa america live streaming uk
watch sky sports premier league live streaming
watch champions league live streaming pc
watch coppa america live streaming australia
watch coppa america live streaming live
cpl 2018 live streaming watch caribbean premier league t20 2018
watch coppa america live streaming spain
watch champions league live streaming now
soccer tv live net stream
watch soccer live streaming xbox one
watch soccer games live stream free
watch english premier league live streaming
watch champions league live streaming malaysia
watch karnataka premier league live streaming
watch live soccer online free streaming now
watch coppa america live streaming qatar
watch soccer online free streaming live hd
watch usa soccer live stream online
watch live soccer stream android
watch champions league live streaming zee tv
watch soccer online free streaming live world cup
watch soccer online free streaming live arabic
watch soccer online free streaming live india
watch soccer online free streaming live manchester united
watch everton vs tottenham live soccer streaming
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online
watch premier league live streaming video
watch coppa america live streaming nz
watch coppa america live streaming dailymotion
watch premier league live streaming quality
watch champions league live streaming zee5
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming online free
watch coppa america live streaming youtube
watch champions league final live streaming
watch uefa champions league final live streaming free online
watch barclays premier league online live streaming
watch premier league live streaming live free
watch coppa america live streaming now
watch soccer online free streaming live iphone
free watch champions league live streaming
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming india
watch real madrid vs juventus live streaming of champions league
watch soccer live streaming xbox
how to watch soccer live streaming free
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming bola
watch soccer online free live streaming livetv ru
where to watch free live soccer streaming online
watch epl live streaming on iphone
watch premier league live streaming xbox
watch champions league final live streaming online
www.watch premier league live stream.com
watch coppa america live streaming ufc
watch premier league live streaming xbox one
watch coppa america live streaming quality
watch premier league live streaming yify
watch champions league live streaming live free
watch coppa america live streaming india vs england
watch premier league darts live stream
watch coppa america live streaming xbox
watch soccer live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming usa
watch coppa america live streaming direct
watch champions league live streaming match
watch coppa america live streaming world
khan tv pw watch indian premier league 2018 live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming total sportek
watch coppa america live streaming espn
watch soccer online free streaming live in english
#thebeatles #panini #linkstreaming #oasisengland #petercrouch #ballondor #league1 #cristianoronaldo #coutinho #sixtimes #championship #battuteepiche #zidane #football #mancity #jadwalbolahariini #freekicks #goodday #visubal #uefanationsleague #premierleague #sumbertv #nikesoccer #MyDubai #Suarez #liverpool #bestshishacafedubai #PartyTime #leicestercity #cappucino #americanfootball #Liamgallagher #firmino #champion #Sunday #juventus #beatifulgame #satira #Bar #fcbarcelona #kopisusu #BMW #oudmehta #Barcelona #chocolate #zinedinezidane #winner #realmadridcf #elcasico #kickoff #coys #cr7 #livestreams #knuckleball #manchestercity #tokyo #watchlive #liverpoolfc #commentimemorabili #rockstar #commento #Celtic #livestreaming #realmadrid
No comments:
Post a Comment