Wayne Rooney and Quaresma share their thoughts on Portugal’s top midfield, while surprising news about Ronaldo’s disconnect comes to light.
Touted as the best midfield in the world, Portugal’s golden trio of Bruno Fernandes, Joao Neves, and Vitinha faced criticism from experts and former players after they struggled to support Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal exited the World Cup early.
Before the tournament, everyone was watching to see how the 41-year-old Ronaldo would perform with such a talented midfield behind him. But after a 1-0 loss to Spain, Portugal’s exit in the Round of 16 was confirmed, falling short of their big trophy hopes. This heartbreaking moment led Ronaldo to announce his retirement from international football with tears.
“This was my last World Cup,” he said before the game, confirming what his sister had shared earlier in the tournament. “There will be time to think about everything, to be with my family, and I want to make decisions calmly. Life goes on.”
After the match, he added, “I have won three titles for Portugal. Before me, Portugal had never won a title. Winning Euro 2016 felt like winning a World Cup to me. I leave proud and knowing I gave my best for my country.”
Ronaldo did finally score in a World Cup knockout game, ending a 20-year drought, but stats showed he didn’t have much support during the tournament. Joao Neves and Vitinha didn’t create a single chance, and along with Bruno Fernandes, the trio didn’t provide any assists, even though Portugal scored eight goals before their exit.
On BBC, Wayne Rooney criticized Bruno Fernandes in particular, saying he missed chances to pass the ball to Ronaldo. “If you’re playing with Cristiano Ronaldo, you have to use him,” Rooney said. “The ball should be put into the box more often because that’s where Ronaldo is dangerous. Playing him from far out just isn’t effective anymore.”
Portuguese legend Quaresma shared a similar view during a podcast with Ruben Dias. “We have great players in midfield, but they looked very weak at this World Cup. The attack struggled, and the defense was confused. The coach didn’t inspire confidence. We needed to enjoy the game more. It’s tough to exit with a team people called ‘the best squad in history.’”
Earlier, Thierry Henry had pointed to Ronaldo as the problem, but it’s clear the issues went both ways. As one of football’s greatest ends his international career, there is a sense of sadness alongside the pride.