Ronaldo puts team efforts ahead of his record hauls
Cristiano Ronaldo will attempt to follow up his World Cup opening game heroics for Portugal against a Morocco side licking their wounds after a crushing late defeat.
A hat-trick from the fivetime world player of the year snatched a thrilling 3-3 draw for the European champions against Spain in a heavyweight Group B showdown in Sochi.
It was Ronaldo’s 51st career hat-trick and the 51st in the tournament’s history, as the Real Madrid star became the fourth player to score in four World Cups. “I am very happy, it’s a nice personal record to have, one more in my career,” Ronaldo said. “The most important thing is to emphasise what the team did against one of the favourites to win this World Cup.”
Despite lifting the trophy at Euro 2016, Portugal are not widely viewed as among the favourites in Russia but can take a big step towards the last 16 by beating Morocco today.
It will be just the second meeting between the two countries, after Morocco beat Portugal 3-1 in the group stage at the 1986 finals. The African team’s knockout hopes hang by a thread after a 95th-minute own goal by Aziz Bouhaddouz against Iran.
Herve Renard’s men face a monumental challenge, with games to come against Portugal and Spain, but midfielder Faycal Fajr is adamant all is not lost for the Atlas Lions.
“If I said that we don’t believe we can qualify, it would be a lie,” said Fajr. “I could throw out some examples, like the Argentina draw [1-1 with Iceland].
“Where there’s a will there’s a way. [The Portuguese] have two feet, two legs and they are humans like us. We lost a battle but we haven’t lost the war.” Renard lamented that Morocco were “crucified by our own errors” in the loss to Iran, but the Frenchman is used to defying expectations, having led outsiders Zambia to a surprise triumph at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.
And Fajr says the mood in the camp remains positive. “Even after the defeat, the atmosphere was terrific,” he said. “All Moroccans have been waiting for this for 20 years. We’re one big family.”
due to a calf problem, in the 59th minute but the Golden Boot winner in Brazil was unable to change the course of the match.
“Without doubt we were expecting something different, we were hoping to start with a victory,” Pekerman said.
“It’s unfortunate for the people of Colombia who came here with high hopes. This is going to leave us with a bitter memory.”