Gael Clichy has suggested that Cristiano Ronaldo could be holding Portugal back after they began their World Cup campaign with an underwhelming 1-1 draw against DR Congo. Portugal, considered one of the pre-tournament favorites, struggled against the African minnows in their opening fixture.
Match Overview
Roberto Martinez's side took an early lead through Joao Neves' header inside seven minutes, but failed to capitalize on their advantage. DR Congo equalized through Newcastle United striker Yoane Wissa's header, scoring their first ever World Cup goal. The draw left Portugal facing questions about their performance and tactics.
Clichy's Analysis
Speaking on BBC One, former Arsenal, Manchester City, and France defender Clichy argued that Ronaldo's presence may have disrupted Portugal's natural flow. 'We said at the beginning of the game that Cristiano Ronaldo will be helping young players because of his character and experience, but sometimes unconsciously those kinds of players can take too much light,' Clichy said. 'When you take them out, you can see players take responsibility.'
Clichy noted that Portugal often tried to play wide to reach Ronaldo, which limited their ability to link up through the middle. 'The game is not natural because of him being on the pitch. They tried to go wide because they tried to reach him. Maybe if he wasn't there, they can link up more in the middle of the pitch,' he added. Clichy praised DR Congo, stating they 'played a very good game' and could have even won.
Other Pundits Weigh In
Former England striker Chris Sutton also questioned Ronaldo's place, calling Portugal's performance 'painful' and 'flat.' He criticized manager Roberto Martinez for not being 'brave enough' to make changes. 'Cristiano Ronaldo was on the periphery and the game passed him by. Martinez has to be brave enough to be the manager. He is not the manager of the Portugal team, and that is their issue,' Sutton said.
In contrast, former England captain Wayne Rooney defended Ronaldo, arguing that the 41-year-old needs chances to score. 'Cristiano Ronaldo's stats are never going to be the best, so what he needs are chances. If he gets a good chance, he will score goals,' Rooney said. However, he admitted Portugal's performance was poor and lacked energy.
Ronaldo's Record
Ronaldo matched Lionel Messi's record by playing in a sixth World Cup but failed to become the first player to score in six different tournaments. The draw leaves Portugal with work to do in their remaining group matches.
