Ronaldo teaches the Dutch a lesson in Total Football

Cristiano Ronaldo has finally joined the party after sobering up from getting high on his La Liga success with Real Madrid. So many explosives did he pack in his game that it burnt a hole in the Dutch defence. The Portuguese captain made known that he was fully charged for the occasion when he wrapped his foot around the ball to send it zooming towards the Netherlands goal from 35 yards out.

Ronaldo made life difficult for Van der Wiel on the right as the Dutch defender was chasing shadows throughout the match. He brushed the post early in the first half and it felt like he was just warming up for his main act. He operated on the Dutch defence with surgical precision that was visible in his passes and total number of shots on goal.

Ronaldo and Nani instinctively chiselled the Dutch defence from either flank like two artisans working on an ice sculpture and their work-rate provided the impetus for most of Portugal’s attack.

After a dismal start to the Euros, noticeably in the second game against Denmark, Ronaldo made up for his poor showing by scoring two well-taken goals against Holland. This made him only the seventh player in the history of Euro Championship to score in three editions.

It only seemed appropriate to play ‘Seven Nation Army’ in the background as Ronaldo celebrated his first goal.

I’m gonna fight ‘em all…A nation army couldn’t hold me back…

Ronaldo dedicated his two goals to his son, Cristiano Junior on fathers day and Netherlands coach, Jeroen van Merwijk, benched his son-in-law and national team captain Mark van Bommel for Van der Vaart.

“I’m very happy because today is also my son’s birthday and I dedicate both my goals to him,” Said Ronaldo.

Twelve of the 24 shots on goal came from Ronaldo, and it gave him the highest total in a Euro match since 1980.

Netherlands defence was split wide open with little persuasion from the Portuguese players. Dutch defender, Jetro Willems, spilled his drinks while serving as full-back because both Nani and Pereira had a free pass on the right.

The same can be said of Ronaldo as Van der Vaart was nowhere near him and Ronaldo toyed with Gregory van der Weil.

“The individual effort of players is not important,” said the manager, Paulo Bento. “I am proud of what we did as a team. We did that brilliantly in three games.”

Despite Portugal’s boisterous performance today, it doesn’t take away their selfishness in front of the goal. Ronaldo should have squared the ball to Oliveira before his shot had beaten Stekelenburg. Oliveira was in a better position to score and Stekelenburg was inches close to saving Ronaldo’s shot.

Always trying to go one better than Ronaldo, Nani wasted two chances when he could have easily passed the ball to Ronaldo. He was taken off soon after, and his selflessness could have reflected on the full time score had he chose to pass the ball.