The past and future of Real Madrid come together in the present without the club having anything to do with it. Perhaps its fans are divided between the myth of the glories experienced or the star who will provide the next triumphs. Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappé clash for the fifth and final time on a big stage due to the imminent retirement of the Portuguese star from the international scene. The Frenchman has never beaten him. The statistics between the two countries are reversed: 13-3 for France in 18 encounters.
Cristiano and Mbappé are the easy personification of their respective teams, beyond the fact that they are the captains, and surely, the current form of each one explains the erratic role of two of the favourites and that they will suffer the final stumble in the Volksparkstadion from Hamburg (9 p.m.). For better or worse, they attract fans to their teams’ games, just as they fascinate fans with their actions and demand constant surveillance by cameras.
Kylian Mbappé, at the French press conference in Hamburg. / Europa Press
Cristiano Ronaldo is the leader in shots on goal, with zero goals scored. The Frenchman follows him in attempts and has only scored from a penalty. Against the Netherlands. He has the justification of the mask he has been wearing since the third game because of the broken nose he suffered in the first and which limits his peripheral vision. “Thanks to the mask I can be here and play this game,” said Mbappé, rejecting excuses by way of apology, but without rejecting the political response to the second round of the French elections.
“Thanks to the mask I can be here and play this game”
Unbridled praise
Mbappé expressed his admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo, perhaps partially amplified by the Portuguese’s career at Madrid. The young disciple spoke of the admiration he feels for him, of his greatness as a footballer, of the honour it represents to play with him and of the pride he feels in maintaining contact with him after meeting him and the advice he gives him.
“I hope to write a great story at Real Madrid, “But I’m not going to write the continuation of Cristiano’s story. He is unique, and I’m going to start my own path,” he said. That said, with all the devotion in the world he feels, he will want to see him mourn Portugal’s elimination.
Robert Martinez, during Portugal’s last training session before facing France. / Miguel A. Lopes / Efe
The painful defeat of 2016
France already cried in front of the Portuguese after losing in the 2016 final at home in Paris. It was “a hard blow, a painful blow”explained Didier Deschamps, who was already the coach at the time. Only four players remain at his side: N’Golo Kanté, Antoine Griezmann, Oliver Giroud and Kingsley Coman.
“I don’t know if Portugal is stronger or weaker than it was then, but it is still a powerful adversary,” said Deschamps, who downplayed the criticism that the team in general receives, which concerns him, and that of Griezmann in particular, whom he defended.
France will play without the suspended Rabiot – Eduardo Camavinga has the numbers to replace him – and Robert Martinez has no absences to regret. He can field his favourite eleven, which ends, of course, with Cristiano Ronaldo. He did not return the unbridled praise for Mbappé. He did return it to the Frenchman, a former teammate of his at Monaco: Bernardo Silva, who met him when he was 16 and predicted a splendid career.
Bernardo Silva, happy at the end of the Portugal-Slovenia match decided by penalties. / La Presse / AP
“I understand criticism as part of the business, for the money we make and the good life we can give to our families, I don’t care, but I can guarantee that we are giving our best.”
Two teams
The Manchester City midfielder was more restrained because he wanted to expand the focus from the individual to the collective struggle. Something that Robert Martinez stressed. “They are two incredible footballers whose influence on world sport will continue for generations to come, but the match will require the entire team to be at a very high level to win.”
Bernardo Silva responded to the criticism received by the Portuguese national team, who are accused of not showing the level that was expected of them. “I understand the criticism as part of the business, for the money we earn and the good life we can give to our families, I don’t care, but I can guarantee that we are giving our best,” before justifying the Cristiano’s laurel after missing a penalty against Slovenia: “I don’t think he took the shot badly, but Oblak made a great save. Sometimes you can’t handle your emotions.”
2024-07-04 19:21:12
#Mbappé #Cristiano #Ronaldo #cry
