Cristiano Ronaldo's performance against DR Congo has been described as a "disasterclass" by senior sports writer Harry Brent, who argues the striker's selfishness is crippling Portugal's World Cup campaign. In a scathing column, Brent compares Ronaldo to a parasite, claiming his monstrous ego is sucking the life out of the team.
Ronaldo's performance under fire
Brent writes that Ronaldo, like a "narcissistic porcelain-toothed geriatric," has derailed Portugal's chances of winning the World Cup by stubbornly refusing to step aside despite being ineffective. He accuses the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star of being a "bigger waste of space than Everton's trophy cabinet."
According to Brent, Ronaldo's desperation to score cost Portugal several chances during the match against DR Congo. He stayed on the field for the full 90 minutes despite a poor performance, further frustrating fans and pundits.
Penalty rules under scrutiny
In the same column, Brent criticizes the penalty rule that punishes goalkeepers for coming off their line. He argues that the rule is "as dumb as the one Chelsea exploited to sell their women's team to themselves to dodge a PSR points deduction."
Brent points out that penalty takers can perform elaborate run-ups, including hopping, skipping, and stuttering, to put off the goalkeeper. Yet if a keeper moves even two millimetres off the line, VAR officials in their "windowless bunker" have a meltdown.
Example from England vs Croatia
Brent cites the example of Harry Kane's penalty in England's 4-2 win over Croatia. Kane's spot-kick was saved after a stuttering run-up, but because the Croatian goalkeeper's toe was marginally over the line, VAR awarded a retake. Kane scored the second attempt, which Brent describes as an "undeserved bailout" similar to the bank bailouts of 2008.
Brent argues that the rule reduces penalties to a foregone conclusion, killing the drama of the "nerve-shredding battle of wits" that penalties should be. He calls for a change to restore fairness and excitement.
