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Can You Imagine World Cup 2010 Without Cristiano Ronaldo?

   

You might not have to, because after Portugal could only draw 1-1 away to Denmark, they’re fourth in UEFA World Cup Qualifying Group 1 with just three games to go.

Based on the above video highlights (set to incongruously chilled out music) Portugal had plenty of chances to take the lead, but – same old story – just didn’t have anyone capable of finishing. Not even Cristiano Ronaldo.

Nicklas “underrated?” Bendtner showed how it was done, taking the ball down o his chest and smashing it into the roof of the net not long before halftime.

Carlos Queiroz (still somehow employed as Portugal’s head coach) brought on his secret weapon at halftime: Brazilian born striker Liédson, who is a Portuguese citizen through residency, and – after banging in over 100 goals for Sporting CP since joining in 2003 – exactly what Portugal was missing.

He showed that poacher’s instinct in the 85th by nodding home an equalizer. On his debut no less. So Portugal may have found the man they were looking for up front. But with just three games to go (vs Hungary home and away, and then Malta at home) is it too late to get Portugal – and C-Ron – to World Cup 2010?



  • MoMONEY

    I would be much more disappointed if Argentina dont make it. Portugal are a bit overrated and always have been…

  • http://www.barnsleyfc.wordpress.com Oli

    It’s also unimaginable that Messi wouldn’t make it, which is why I am supporting Argentina from now on.

    Incidently, that is definately the voice of the Scissor Sisters, although I couldn’t name you the song.

  • http://littlemissdiana.blogspot.com diana

    I will not be surprised if that is the case, Daryl. But then at least Cristiano Ronaldo’s Real Madrid team-mate Kaka will be there after Brazil’s win in Argentina.

  • amunt valencia

    MoMoney
    i disagree
    portugal arent over-ratted
    they just have gone thru a lot of changes
    over the past 3 years a lot of new young player came in the team n they didnt gel in smoothly
    still i find youngster like moutinho not playing as well as expected n whatever happened to veloso

    plus there group is the toughest of em all
    most ppl dont admit it but denmarks got a sweet sweet squad who deserve to get a direct qualification
    hungary a team on rise
    sweden is always a tricky team to play against
    n albania has a really frustating way to play where they just crowd the fucking box n throw the dirtiest tackle possible in the mid esp that cana block

    over-ratted is a word i will use for argentina n england but not portugal

  • amunt valencia

    not to mention bendtners goal was a killer one,dudu?duda-(suck at remembering names)got owned

  • Jose

    France and Argentina have to be there. Portugal I can live without.

  • Forca goodnight

    Too bad, soo sad. They should play the 1st half against HUngary with CR. Maybe the team will have a chance to gel and touch teh ball.

  • Forca goodnight

    I meant without CR.

  • Tony

    An extremely overrated team from the time of the golden generation, probably the biggest misnombre in sport history to the current shamble that is the portugese team, which in the game vs denmark had 5 naturalized players. Furthermore, to have the biggest baby in soccer as captain of the team just shows the horrible shape they have themselves in.
    To sum it all up, the world cup will probably be better for it.
    Not to worry for all the portuguese fans as you can still cheer for brazil as you’ve done in the past.

  • http://juventus.theoffside.com alessio

    Ditto to Tony, ha, right on.

    Any comments on how Zlatan Ibrahimovic has an uphill fight too? Funny that the 2 most expensive transfers this summer are largely flops for their national team.

  • Seth

    Tony, being sexually-frustrated must suck.

  • Tony

    As temping as getting into an argument with a 12 year old is….
    I think i’ll pass.

  • Cerberus

    Yeah, but go Denmark! Now let’s not screw it up at the close.

  • Nic

    Hey Tony, they only have three naturalized players…Pepe, Deco, Liedson.

  • Fwembt

    I would love to watch a World Cup that didn’t contain Portugal.

  • http://psg.theoffside.com/ Thomas

    Nic: No, they also have Daniel Fernandes (Canada), Danny (Venezuela), and Yannick Djaló (Guinea-Bissau).

  • SP

    wasn’t nani born outside of portugal too? too lazy to look it up

  • martin

    SP…you are right! Didn’t know that. He is from Cape Verdi.

  • João

    @Thomas. Actually Daniel Fernandes and Danny are Portuguese since their birth due to Jus sanguinis laws (a concept unheard of in the Americas) and therefore not naturalized.

  • Luka

    I’d LOVE it if C.Ronaldo’s Portugal didn’t qualify. T’would be hilarious.

  • JC

    The world cup without Messi will be more dissapointing.

  • Nic

    No Toni,
    Both Daniel Fernandes and Danny both have portuguese families and are therefore both portuguese. And Yannick Djaló was born in Guinea Bissau and moved to portugal as a child, grew up there, played for sportings youth teams, made portuguese citizen as a small child.

    I was born in Canada, but both my parents are portuguese, and I was made a citizen of portugal when I was 11. I consider myself as much portuguese as I do a canadian.

    ANYWAYS. I have already come to terms with the fact that we might not make it. There is no way in hell I will cheer for Brazil ( because screw them and their multitude of wins). My dutch friend dared me to cheer for the Netherlands…we’ll have to see what happens.

  • Nic

    sorry to be the ass….but Nani also moved to Portugal as a child. There are tons of portuguese players who moved from former colonies as children and lived and grew up as if they were portuguese. I know the concept is foreign in America, and I’m not a fan of all the Brazilians on the national team, but Danny, Nani, Djalo are portuguese through and through.

  • Mat

    1:21 .. such an obvious handball by Denmark def.. wow!!

  • http://www.pitchpassion.com/ Chris Breese

    Well done Denmark who were truly heroic in getting that draw. To be honest, a World Cup without Cristiano Ronaldo wouldn’t be so bad, he’s talented, but he’s also supremely annoying and doesn’t so quite so well for the national team in any case.

    A world Cup without Messi would be much, much worse.

  • Tony

    What about Bosingwa?

    And yes Nic, i guess you’re right, i understand that if someone moves to a country early in their lives they can play.

  • cibele

    I can live without it. It’s not like Cristiano Ronaldo made a big difference in W. Cups. I don’t see the big deal. Actually, I hope they don’t qualify :)

  • http://portugal.worldcupblog.org Miguel

    The fact of the matter is the Portuguese National Team is fun to watch. You hate us or you love us. There rarely is a middle ground. We won the “FIFA Award for the Most Entertaining Team” at the 2006 Worldcup!!! That has to say something.

    You will rarely see a 0-0 result in a world-cup match with Portugal (except for these freaking qualifiers). The days following our matches you will find heated discussion on “that diving prick Ronaldo” or “that cunt ref that didn’t call the obvious penalty” or “that horrific tackle they gave Ronaldo to try and finish him off in the first couple of minutes”, there is always an angle for discussion.

    Portugal doesn’t play to draw.

    WE GAVE YOU 36 SHOTS AT THE GOAL IN THE LAST GAME! That is 36 reasons for some to cheer and others to burst out in frustration (35 actually as we scored on 1 occasion). How many teams have you shift in your seat anticipating joy or frustration (whatever tingles your jingles)? Come’on now be honest about it!

    When you look at the draw for a World or Euro Cup and try to make up your mind which games you will watch would you get excited with a France-Denmark or would you prefer a France-Portugal (mind you I didn’t choose France at random)?

  • http://portugal.worldcupblog.org Miguel

    … “How many teams have you shift in your seat anticipating joy or frustration (whatever tingles your jingles) THAT MANY TIMES?…

  • http://portugal.worldcupblog.org Miguel

    @Tony:
    Bosingwa also came to Portugal as a young kid and wasn’t “recruited” to play in the National team as Liedson, Deco or Pepe were. He already played in the U-21.

  • Fernando

    I can imagine a World Cup without CR7, without Leo Messi and without Maradona patrolling the sidelines, I think its a good thing, a World Cup without Divas and prima-donnas. The Spanish La Liga is probably paying both Argentina and Portugal money not to go to the World Cup so that the golden boys don’t get hurt.

    BTW, This is a much better article by the way… http://www.lacelesteblog.com/?p=279

  • Kelly

    I dont even like Portugal or Ronaldo, but I want them to qualify for the WC, same as Argentina. What kind of WC would it be without teams of that quality and history?

    btw that was some goal by Bendtner there, brilliant.

  • Jose

    Miguel: Yeah, but Spain already does all that and does it better.

  • http://portugal.worldcupblog.org Miguel

    Jose: Yes they do! And I love it! Go Spain! But… wouldn’t it be great to have the WC with teams that do all that? Or do you want only Spain doing it and make the WC a walk in the park? Ok not exactly because these days you also have Brazil, Holland and England coming to the pitch guns blazing but the more the merrier… no?

  • http://portugal.worldcupblog.org Miguel

    Fernando: And you probably would prefer to have “La donna é mobile” song by Britney Spears, Pink and Madonna instead of Luciano Pavaroti, Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras. Get real. The best performers should have the best stage and the WC is it.

  • Fernando

    Miguel: they’re not going… Messi & CR7 will play the “Portugal vs Argentina” match on PlayStation 3… by the way off topic, check out this great article… maybe this guy should go to the World Cup instead of Leo Messi: http://www.lacelesteblog.com/?p=724#more-724

  • MoMONEY

    I dont know how Portugal won most entertaining team award. To me they have talented players but no cohesion. They play physical more than anything. And about them being high scoring? In that World Cup I remember the pathetic excuse for a game against Holland (record for cards and I do kinda blame Portugal as I know Holland plays good football), a boring draw against England, then a boring game against France… Most entertaining? I think not…

  • OhYes

    I’m still looking for video evidence of Denmark defending (even half-assed defending will do). If anyone can find some, please call me there’s a $500 reward.

  • http://www.yasuhito7.tk yasuhito

    the worldcup must had been without c.ronaldo
    Can You Imagine World Cup 2010 Without yasuhito endo tiger stricker?

  • http://www.yasuhito7.tk yasuhito

    this is the best news that listen it

  • Andy Jee

    Everything could happen in the football filed .
    After Figo and Costa , Ronaldo has responsbility to lead his team , but football is not one person’s game .
    so let us cross fingers for Portugal !!!

  • Weston

    a world cup without ibra or ronaldo would be spectacular! denmark and hungary deserve this one.

  • http://portugal.worldcupblog.org Miguel

    @Weston:
    You must be out of your mind. I’m 100% sure you haven’t seen a single game by Hungary, basing your comment on a quick look at the group standing: “…and hungary deserve this one.”
    Unless of course you are Hungarian…

    If it wasn’t for Sweden winning the last to games on luck (lucky rebound to win against Hungary and own-goal to win against Malta) I’d even accept “…and sweden deserve this one.”.

    I’d love a world cup with Messi, Ibra, Berbatov, Henry, Ribery and Ronaldo. I love soccer. But they all stand dangerously close to the abyss. I don’t know what your favorite sport is. Perhaps lumberjack contests?

  • Shaabi

    Don’t worry The real one will be there,the Brazilian ronaldo.The fat monstor but i love him.

  • http://www.sevsen.net Chat

    thank you

  • Fatima

    I really hope Portugal makes it, we have the best world player CR7. We deserve to be in WC. i don’t care about what people say about us i just think you guys are jealous of the Portuguese team let’s face it CR7 is the star of football.

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