Spinning the Gears

AFP PHOTO/JUAN BARRETO

Portugal\'s forward Cristiano Ronaldo (second right) kisses the ball before taking a penalty during the Russia 2018 World Cup Group B soccer match between Iran and Portugal at Mordovia Arena in Saransk, Russia, on June 25, 2018.

If justice existed in soccer, Iran would have won today, said Iran coach Carlos Queiroz’s comments after Iran’s match against Portugal ended in a draw, 1-1. However, justice has never been a certainty on the soccer field.

It was minute 94 at the Saransk Stadium in Russia – a moment of sorrow for fans of the Iranian team. The ball was being dribbled by Mehdi Taremi just a few meters before Portugal’s goalpost. Goalkeeper Rui Patricio made his move by shrinking Taremi’s shooting angle. Taremi kicked the ball and it missed the goalpost to the right. Taremi then covered his face with both hands, visibly upset.

Taremi’s missed goal was the peak of Iran’s misfortune in the final Group B match against Portugal. If luck had been with Iran, the team could have accompanied Japan as Asia’s representative in the Round of 16. In this scenario, Iran would have sent Portugal home.

Iran had actually played better than Portugal. Portugal’s coach Fernando Santos acknowledged this and congratulated Queiroz for his team’s amazing performance. On the other hand, Portugal’s performance has always been amazing.

“What’s important is that we will always move forward. This is our goal,” Santos said.

For Portugal, performing well is not its goal. In the match against Morocco, Santos said that he was dissatisfied with his team’s performance. However, he was still relieved that Portugal could score points.

AFP PHOTO/MLADEN ANTONOV

Portugal\'s forward Cristiano Ronaldo calls for a penalty during the Russia 2018 World Cup Group B soccer match between Iran and Portugal at Mordovia Arena in Saransk, Russia, on June 25, 2018.

“The fact is that we have scored four points,” defender Ruben Dias said, reaffirming his coach’s statement.

No defeats: this is Portugal’s credo under Santos. Thus far, Portugal has always held to it. It has yet to be defeated despite its so-so performances in both the Euro Cup and the World Cup.

In the 2016 Euro Cup, Portugal went through the group stage without any wins. It gained three draws in matches against Iceland, Austria and Hungary. In the next stage, it only won against Croatia, 1-0. This happened at minute 117 when Ricardo Quaresma stole the ball from Croatian goalkeeper Danijel Subasic, who had tried to parry it.

In the quarter finals, Portugal won against Poland through penalties. In the semifinals, it defeated Wales, 2-0. In the finals, it won 1-0 against host France.

In this year’s World Cup, it has yet to put on a great performance. However, it has yet to suffer a defeat. Under Santos, Portugal may seem to be dragging its feet. However, the fact remains that “it is still here”.

AFP PHOTO/MANAN VATSYAYANA

Uruguay\'s forward Luis Suarez (left) celebrates and Russia\'s goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev reacts after Uruguay\'s second goal scored by Uruguay\'s defender Diego Laxalt during the Russia 2018 World Cup Group A soccer match between Uruguay and Russia at the Samara Arena in Samara, Russia, on June 25, 2018.

“What’s the use of your beauty if you’re dead?” has been Santos’ justification of Portugal’s performance thus far.

Santos, 63, is a sharp-minded analyst. He can provide an accurate analysis on any type of game except for a beautiful one. It seems that he does not understand how to play beautifully.

According to reporter Tilo Wagner, Santos once said in an interview that he tried to combine an offensive playing style with his players’ emotional vitality in forming the Portuguese squad. Under his command, Portuguese players just need to play straightforwardly and efficiently. No need for beautiful playing styles.

For Santos, who has an electrical engineering background, his players are like gears in an engine. The engine will run well if the gears run well, too. As gears, each player has his own tactical and specific tasks to perform to ensure that the team’s engine will run effectively.

In Santos’ mind, even someone like Ronaldo is just a gear – even if it may be coated in gold. However, he acknowledged that the skills of the team’s star players should be considered in arranging strategies. Here is where Ronaldo becomes a special gear for the Portuguese team.

AFP PHOTO/EMMANUEL DUNAND

Uruguay\'s forward Luis Suarez (center) heads the ball between Russia\'s defender Mario Fernandes (right) and Russia\'s midfielder Daler Kuzyaev during the Russia 2018 World Cup Group soccer match between Uruguay and Russia at Samara Arena in Samara, Russia, on June 25, 2018.

Whenever people ask him who he thinks is the world’s best player, Santos never says that it is Lionel Messi. For him, it has always been Ronaldo. Therefore, he is convinced that Ronaldo will be a “special gear” in the engine of Portugal’s national team in the Russia World Cup.

Can the gears spin well in the knockout stage? Santos realizes that it will not be easy to defeat Uruguay. Despite being in the weak Group A, Uruguay is the team with the best World Cup results thus far. In its three group matches, Uruguay won three times and scored nine points and five goals. No goal has been scored against it.

Under Oscar Washington Tabarez’s management, Uruguay has shown itself to be a highly organized and disciplined team. Tabarez is El Maestro (the master) with decades of experience. As an educator, it is understandable that he has an obsession for his students’ disciplines. In his 12 years of serving as the “football guru” for the Uruguayan national team, Tabarez has continuously trained his students with discipline. For him, discipline is key to a team’s success.

Apart from Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani, Uruguay has few top players – unlike its neighbors Brazil and Argentina. However, thanks to the team’s discipline, Uruguay has made plenty of achievements and should not be underestimated by its opponents.

Through discipline, it has established great defenses. Its defenders can daringly run forward and break through opponents’ defenses. With Suarez and Cavani, Uruguayan players have proven their team solidity and accuracy in providing assists.

KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO

Sindhunata

Other than Suarez, Portugal must also give serious attention to Cavani. El Matador, as Cavani is often called, is known for his large stature and physical strength. His sturdy muscles are seemingly an extension of his unyielding spirit. He can spread his mental endurance to his teammates, even in critical situations. Suarez is like fire. Under immense pressure, he sometimes acts absurdly, such as biting his opponents. However, he has now matured and his greatness must not be questioned.

With its achievements, Uruguay is ready to tear down its opponents, whoever they may be. With highly disciplined players, they can easily take away their opponents’ joy and enthusiasm. Clearly, Ronaldo and his teammates will need a “high-quality lubricant” so that the gears of their team’s engine will be able to spin properly if they wish to defeat Uruguay.

Sindhunata, Journalist, Football Fan