Portugal's Ronaldo Problem

0:00Cristina Alexander:MLB.tv on ESPN is your home for every out-of-market game, live or on demand. Catch your favorite teams and players, plus MLB Network and ESPN app features like Multiview, syncing your stats, key plays, bets, and fantasy, all in one place. Sign up now for MLB.tv in the ESPN app. Separate subscriptions required, blackouts and other terms apply. Visit stream.espn.com slash MLB TV for more information. Coming up, 24 hours after Messi's stunning solo performance, it was anything but a virtuoso from Ronaldo. Should Portugal consider dropping their maestro? And Kane was the conductor for England, as the three lions hit all the right notes deep in the heart of Texas.

0:48Strike up the band, we'll have a symphony of voices. Recapping another fantastic day of World Cup action on ESPN FC. next.

1:05It is day eight of the 2026 World Cup. Welcome into our ESPN FC studios. Ali Krieger alongside us. Nadia Manua and Kieran Gibbs has decided to come back for more. I am Kane. We're going to be looking back on everything that we saw yesterday and talking about what's ahead today as we enter match day two in the tournament. But Portugal's Group K opener with DR Congo ended in a 1-1 draw. The headline here, this won't do in a baller. In Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo lasting the full 90 in this game and under even more scrutiny because of the day before. Mbappe, Haaland and of course Lionel Messi scoring multiple goals in their games.

1:48Frank Leboeuf joins us now, we will get into all of it. But Frank, what's the t-shirt today please? Oh my God. You know, I want to share the fame with the 2018 team. So, yeah, I don't know if you see the two stars there. And supposedly, that's the 1998 World Cup. And you have my name somewhere. I couldn't find it. I had the T-shirt for 10 years. I couldn't find it because you have Zidane everywhere, of course. Deschamps, Blanc, Desailly. But supposedly, I'm somewhere. But I feel I'm in it. Frank, at least that one's a little bit more subtle than the one you had yesterday They were just a big World Cup splashed on the front, mate.

2:27Yeah, but I wanted to step up yesterday. I wanted to show, you know, the win. That's nice, Frank. You're outnumbered today. I'm a French guy, very humble. You're outnumbered today. We have a two-time World Cup winner on the final. Not the only World Cup winner here today, Frank. Someone who's won it twice, Frank. A real legend. A real legend. Ali, like that. All right, Frank. Let me say with you, let me get your reaction to Portugal yesterday and this whole conversation of Cristiano Ronaldo? Well, I think, you know, sometimes, you know, I've been critical towards Ronaldo because I don't like the kind of selfishness when we put in football where somebody is the star of the team.

3:09But I want to defend Cristiano Ronaldo. He wasn't the only one who didn't perform well. That was the entire team. And he didn't do what everybody was expecting. But again, it's a team sport. And if you don't provide what you need to provide to Ronaldo, like you had to do for Messi or to Kylian Mbappé or Erling Haaland or Kane that we're going to talk after, he won't score or he won't have many opportunities. So it's a bad start, but it's been a bad start for Brazil and so many other teams, Spain too. So let's see how it works for the second game. I'm pretty sure that Portugal is going to go through the group stages and perform well into that workout.

3:54But it's more a question about Martinez and why Ronaldo wasn't saved, I would say, in some energies for next game, playing the 90 minutes. I don't know why he insisted on keeping him. He said it because he will score goals, but I don't believe that is what it is. Yeah, that's what he's obviously said afterwards. Roberto Martinez has said, we needed a goal and we kept our goal scorer on the pitch for the full 90 minutes. Do you agree with what the coach did, Ali?

4:20Cristina Alexander:Yeah, I can agree with that. But I think just as a collective, it wasn't a team performance. There was a bunch of individuals and it just looked disconnected at times. And I think the chemistry was just off. And I think they really struggled to stay connected as a group and find answers. and Cristiano Ronaldo, yeah, he needs the players around him to provide him that type of service that he's asking for but he's in and around the box, he's creating what he can but it just wasn't good enough. Big conversation on last night's show, Nadem. Are you still feeling the same way that you were heading into the tournament that Ronaldo has to be starting and has to be the figure in this Portugal team?

4:54Yeah, I think so. I think the point that Frank's made there about not making it about Cristiano Ronaldo is fair because other players didn't perform to their best either and I think Ronaldo, one thing about him at this stage of his career is that it's going to be built around service. I think gone are the days where he will just conjure up some magic from absolutely nowhere and that's fair, that's normal but I thought Portugal yesterday were just really, really disappointed and I think Roberto Martinez's point is a good one as well because if they do need a goal, why is this the time to take off Ronaldo?

5:23I thought personally, when I saw Di Alcongo play in the back three I thought he would have gone with two strikers. I thought that would have been the answer and towards the end that's what he went for when he brought on Gonzalo Ramos. but it was like 80 minutes too late. I just don't see it personally. I think sometimes people want to always look at things through that lens of Ronaldo. So if it works, maybe it's because of him. If it doesn't work, it's because of him. But I think that does a sort of disservice to the nature of the game itself and the team they're playing against, as I'm sure Kieran will tell you.

5:48Yeah, I just don't think they were set up to succeed yesterday. I think we can always point holes at individual players, but, you know, you've got, it felt a little bit like round holes in square pegs. I think you had players like Bernardo Silva, Vettinia, Neves, Fernandes. All these players are quite similar. And so in football these days, you just can't get away with that. You need variety and you need different ideas. And they just look like they were one-dimensional yesterday. And I don't think you can just put that on Cristiano Ronaldo. I think as a collective, I think the manager really needs to probably look at himself.

6:29you need players that can make a difference by beating players and these types of players, they don't possess that that's not what their game is based on so we don't want to get carried away, it's just the first game but definitely question marks over the manager for me more than anything So yes or no, do you start Ronaldo in the next game? I think if you would, you would have to organise the team around him better I think you need a little bit more pace on the wings. You need more directness, crosses in the box. And like Nadem said, more service. So, yeah, I think if you are going to start him, then you need to, that front three behind him is just crucial as to those, who that personnel is going to be.

7:21Yeah, I think, in my opinion, we've had two things. Firstly, when it comes down to say this Portuguese side, like very rarely do I say that manager got it wrong But I think he got it wrong in terms of the setup I think having to take off Bernardo Silva at halftime because he wants a winger to say go against Diarongo Like that shouldn't have been a surprise how that game was going to go I think they liked the matchup on that side And then you could maybe either go for two strikers or go for two wingers They're going to pin back their two wingbacks and create space for others But he didn't really do that, which is a big surprise given how experienced he is But then the other side, like you say Ronaldo, we think about Messi year, as they've gotten older, I genuinely believe because of the way Messi plays, he's going to age in a better way than Cristiano Ronaldo because Messi can have an influence in the game wherever he likes.

8:03He isn't, like we were being critical yesterday for Ronaldo for not running in behind. Have you ever said Messi needs to run in behind more? That's not really a part of the game that matters to him as such and he will do it, but there are other parts coming to the ball, getting a feel for the game. Say it's not about service for Messi, but for Ronaldo it isn't as it should be for a number nine. So I think in some ways, as I say, these years have been more harsh to him. The critiques have been more difficult because now he's in a position whereby no one has the discussion about whether Messi should start or not.

8:31Nobody. But for Ronaldo, it's like, well, is he holding the team back? And I just don't think he is. I think it's a service. Fair point.

8:37Cristina Alexander:Yeah, absolutely. I also don't think this tournament would be defined by just Ronaldo as the individual player, but they do need him on the field because of his experience, because of his leadership, because of the quality of the goal-scoring opportunities that he can create and be a part of. And he also draws, as a defender myself, I would be, you know, he'd be in my back pocket all game. And you'd have to, you know, pay attention to him consistently, but then that leaves other space and other opportunities for players to, you know, get into the attack as well and open up space for them like Maynard just had touched on.

9:10Cristina Alexander:So, yes, I would start him and then see how the next game goes. I've got to say, by the way, just to jump in, I don't know if this is a lost in translation thing, but in the back pocket in England means you've got it totally in the control. So, yeah. I know what you're trying to say. You just have to think. You have to keep your head on a swivel. You have to know where he is at all times. You're saying you've got to stay touch tight. You have to affect him in a way physically, whether that's a baller or him. And I think that as defenders, he attracts a lot. He's their man. He's their forward. He's that attacking player who's going to score the goal.

9:43Cristina Alexander:So, of course, defenders are going to be attracted to that. Yeah, he's breathing over your shoulder all the time. If that's what he's into, then yeah. Frank, you get the final say on this very positive Cristiano Ronaldo segment. Yeah, because we have to defend him. The way that Tim was shaped up, you know, I didn't really like it because Bernardo Silva likes to come inside. Benetok likes to come inside. So, therefore, you don't have the crossy that Ronaldo can be very attracted to where he can go near post, far post, or with his header being very efficient. And we didn't have that, you know. So they're expecting Ronaldo to make runs in the space.

10:25No, he doesn't run anymore like he used to because he's 41 and it's just fair. So you have to, I agree, I don't know who said that, Nidham, I think, who said you have to change the way of thinking the game, tactically rethink the total thing that you were putting in, and I'm talking about Roberto Martinez, to make sure you properly serve Ronaldo. Hopefully, he's going to start next game and they're going to change that mindset because otherwise it's not going to work. Okay, good stuff. So, Cristiano Ronaldo, we'll see if he does start the next game for Portugal. The hype is still going for Lionel Messi as it stands right now.

11:03But before we get to that, we do want to show you the small group of the Archongo fans in Lisbon yesterday in the public fan zone celebrating the goal for their team. I love that. Total scenes. Just everybody else, stony-faced, as you can imagine, all the Portuguese around. But these are the scenes that we love to see. Football is, of course, a global game. This is how things are looking in Group K. After the first round of games were played, Colombia with a 3-1 win over Uzbekistan. And they put themselves on top of the table and Portugal and DR Congo playing out that one-all draw. Lionel Messi, the conversation continues.

11:48And so too does the excitement about what we saw in the first game for Argentina. A game in which Messi scored his first World Cup hat-trick. We mentioned football being a global game and fans celebrating everywhere. where we also got to see university campuses in the capital city of Dhaka, in Bangladesh, massive fan zones, also here in Birulia, celebrating Argentina. Now, Bangladesh famously hosts one of the largest and most passionate groups of Argentina football fans outside of South America. We saw it in 2022, and it remains very strong, as you can see, in 2026.

12:29Cristina Alexander:This is what the World Cup is all about, Ali. Yes, this has been incredible. It's bringing people together from different cultures and backgrounds and languages. You don't have to speak the same. You're so passionate about the beautiful game. You could share that with each other and just seeing the excitement, you know, that the world is actually coming together in such a dark time, I think. And that's what's been so powerful and so lovely to see. And a lot of the nations who are scoring goals and tying games, maybe not as popular, or the younger generations see that. And they see that they could be in that same position.

13:05Cristina Alexander:And I think that's been so powerful, too. Like Congo and Curacao and these other nations just playing so well and being able to score their first goals in the tournament. and then the fans are erupting and just so excited to be a part of that and see that passion that's been incredible. This is all because of Messi that we're seeing. Swarves of Argentina fans in Bangladesh. He's about to turn 39 and he's still delivering at the highest level. Listen, he's still young. I'm 39. He's still young. I don't know why he's going to make that seem like that's a problem. But I think for three years, Messi and Ronaldo, they are at times almost bigger than football itself.

13:41Having been lucky enough to travel around the world, One thing that you will see these days, especially with young people, you'll see a Lionel Messi into Miami shirt. You'll see a Ronaldo Al Nasser shirt. Being able to go to the World Cup in 2022 in Doha. I remember going to watch a game for Portugal. And the people getting on that train weren't all from Portugal, but they adored Cristiano Ronaldo. I think these two, in some ways, ascend the sport. And when you have moments like this, when everybody's watching anyway, it's the World Cup. And obviously, Argentina have great history with the World Cup itself.

14:08And you see one of the most significant players in the history of the game. score a hat-trick in that manner. Not only was it watched live, but it would be watched probably millions, if not billions of times afterwards as well. So it's great to see that the old boy can still do it. Isn't this amazing, Frank? It is amazing, and he deserves that. I mean, he's a genius, and he makes the difference. But again, what we talked about Ronaldo before, it's not all about Lionel Messi. I mean, the teamwork behind him, and we saw that in 2022, and I was very surprised to see that again for this World Cup.

14:47It's simply amazing where everybody works for the genius, and it's why it works, and it should be the same for Portugal. You have to serve Ronaldo if you want Ronaldo to shine. Then after, yeah, we talk about Messi, Messi, Messi, Messi, but if Messi doesn't have 10 other fantastic teammates, Messi doesn't exist. I'm very sorry. I love Messi. He's a real fantastic player, and like Ronaldo for the past almost two decades, but without these teammates and that's what we have to emphasize that's what you have to witness as bandits is without these teammates that guy couldn't provide what he provided the last game.

15:25Yeah, a lot of love for Messi and Ronaldo here today on our morning show and rightfully so we are lucky to be in an era that these two guys are still playing. Head on over to our YouTube channel though for the question on whether Lionel Messi should have been sent off against Algeria, Nadam and Craig Burley. Getting into it there You can catch it over on YouTube. Now, England took their time to warm up, but it all changed in the second half as the Three Lions roared on their entry to World Cup 2026. That's next.

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16:40It was a tale of two halves as England beat Croatia 4-2 in Texas. And look at some of the papers. Texas Cane score massacre. You've got to love the British tabloids. Bells and whistles, England's entertainers. And rawsome. Harry Jude and Marcus giving three lions. the ideal start for two. It would finish. Frank LaBeouf joining us for this game. Wanted to start though, Kieran, with you. Something you said yesterday on last night's show, where would we be without Harry Kane? Oh, yeah. I mean, it gives me shivers to be honest. I think, you know, we've seen him perform now for the last decade in an England shirt and, you know, I don't think we've taken it for granted but the level of performance from him has been incredible.

17:25I mean look at the amount of goals just this season alone. He continues to mould his game and score different types of goals but influence the game at the same time and this is what I love about him. Team player, leader, always steps up in the biggest moments, puts the pressure on himself and he is our legend. He's our legend and I think he's gonna go on to break more boundaries. I love the way he took that second goal yesterday. I'm not sure why he wasn't marked by the way, but most dangerous man on the planet at the moment. But yeah, no just really happy to see him still delivering in an England shirt and I think there's a lot more to come from him this tournament.

18:16He literally leads from the front, Nadeem. Well from that heat map just leads from everywhere. That's true as well. You actually don't know where he's going to be. You don't. And I think, obviously, that those... You know he's going to be in the right place at the right time. You know he's going to be in the right place at the right time. And in fairness, for the set-piece goal, that was set up for him. I think there were parts of the game where he did play well. But I think, for me, like, obviously he's an icon. But I love the sort of support and cast around it and how it sort of complements him.

18:41I think the Jude Bellingham goal, for example, comes because they don't have... Like, Harry Kane doesn't really run in behind, doesn't really play on the shoulder as much. So you need players that are going to do that. And I think Bellingham is that. You know, it's probably the reason why. say the likes of Gordon, Nadueke, Rashford and Saka are going to be so pivotal for England. But then to talk about negatives, he's probably the reason why I say Cole Palmer and like Phil Foden aren't in there because they're more traditional number 10s. But his goal record is incredible. It's absolutely incredible.

19:07And I think when he roams, he can have huge impact. I thought at times yesterday, he probably went a bit too deep when he was going in to sort of get the ball from the centre-halves. But when he's on the field, England know they've got a chance. And when they know that he can score in that manner, if everyone else is doing the job that's required of them than their dangerous side. Let me ask you something, Ali, because much has been made and we've heard the coach and the assistant coach talking about the team talk at halftime and just the difference that positive team talk can make. The difference between the first half and the second half and correcting things was outstanding and there for all to see.

19:39Cristina Alexander:Yeah, it was unbelievable, the shift that happened, I think more mentally than the physical aspect part of it because they proved that they could score goals. But I think that mental shift in the game of, okay, let's play with a little bit more freedom. Let's be a little bit more decisive. Let's just go out and play our game and not stress about, I think Tuchel had said this as well, about protecting something and not being able to play free and just play the way that we want to play. And I think that going back to Harry Kane, I think he's playing now a little bit unpredictable. Like he is coming back a little bit deeper, but then that allows the other attacking players that space to run in behind and to play free up top, which created, I think, a few more opportunities.

20:20Cristina Alexander:And then on the defensive side of the game, I thought he saved that goal at the very end, which was so impressive, even though he came all the way back. But there was a definite shift at halftime for the mentality, for them to go out and just have, what do the English call it? A man possessed. A man possessed. About Jude Bellingham and Kane as well. And I think that is a perfect definition of what transitioned. Frank, are we seeing a new era for England? well he already is i mean the prince harry they already called him or very soon the king harry uh is a real model and uh yeah he's a he's a huge star i mean uh um ali said he's uh he's unpredictable but every everything that he does he's very thoughtful he's a very intelligent guy playing the the the football the way he thinks the football so um sacrificing uh for for the teammate by being selfish at the right time at the right moment being very clever on his runs and on his move on the passes that he made in the first half and he's trying to pass to Maduiki that he almost went through that was a piece of diamonds for me everything he does and on top of it if the Croatian they leave him alone on the second goal with the header it goes easier for him but But what a model.

21:39It's a real model for everybody, how to behave on the field, how to work hard, and how to be successful. So that was the most entertaining game for me so far. The first half, especially. After the second half, England were better because of the change of mind. Well done, Mr. Tourelle, on the way that he talked to the team. But that was a very good game from England, and especially Harry Kane. Yeah, a lot of excitement around England right now, particularly with the attacking performance that we got to see from them. Just taking a look at how Group L is shaping up and we do want to talk about Jude Bellingham who scored seven England goals in major tournaments, four of them, sorry coming in major tournaments, seven England goals in total.

22:21The most recent came in the 47th minute. Here's the England fans celebrating that. We were a bit shaky at first but we really got it together and in the second half we should have scored a bit more but it was a great game. We were confident, we were progressive, we played good football, we played force, we played that game. A few times, they came back in, but we knew we had this, yeah. It was all in England, all the way through. We knew this, we had this. It was a great day all round. That was beautiful. That was probably the best game we've been to many World Cups. That was the best World Cup game we've ever seen, it was wonderful.

22:53Yep, here are the fans. In London, celebrated Jude Bellingham's goal, which proved to be the game winner. How did the goal come about? Well, we've put Kieran to task with Nadem today over at the sandbox to tell us. Right, so, Davey, great to have you. Pleasure. What could possibly go wrong? Let's break it down. Let's break down Bellingham. Yeah, let's break down probably one of the most important moments in the game. I thought in the first half, England, even though they scored two goals, they looked a little bit nervous. I thought Croatia, in my opinion, were the better side. But I think there was a very big statement of intent as that second half started.

23:29and it all begins back here with the ball that gets played to Rhys James from Esri Konza and then Eli Anderson comes and I think he's a key player in this move because as this ball goes to him here, this is where the game changes because for us as former defenders, emphasis on former defenders, you want to be able to come and apply pressure here wherever you can. You want to be on the front foot, make people uncomfortable and if we do that, then it's comfortable, isn't it? Yeah, and this is exactly what we noticed in the first half. I thought Croatia held a really good line and they were aggressive in the press.

24:00And I felt like the game from England needed this type of pass from Anderson. But what I thought was really important was actually the speed at which it goes from Konza to James. And then the one touch, just that inviting pass for Anderson to just hook it on. It didn't give these defenders any time to get set. 100%. And so once that ball goes in behind and you've got Madweke and Bellingham running onto it, it's very difficult. Absolutely, and I think to make the point again, Bradio wants to come this way, Perisic wants to come this way, all the defenders want to come this way. But from that ball from Rhys James to Eli Anderson being so good in his first time, you know the ball is actually going to be going in this direction.