Cristiano can QUITEN Myself and His Other Critics Today

We just keep hearing all this bitching between FIFA, Cristiano and even Pepe has gotten in the mix. So much talk, not enough action. People can talk and claim things, but there is only ONE football pitch. On that football pitch is where the truth SHALL set you all free. After all, there are a million lies and only one truth. It's the TRUTH that I only care about, nothing else.

This is the match where Cristiano can convince me of the doubts I have of his talent. I have been on his case for a long time, because it's not the same player. It's not the same player I saw from Portugal and in United. A devastating force with incredible talent and skill. A player who had confidence in his master of the football and did special things with it. All I see now is a man who drifts in and out of games and can only offer goals. That's IT. Sorry, but I need more than that to see you as a top player. So it is now Cristiano, that you have your chance to prove yourself. Because a nation expects. You don't have the comfort of Madrid and a system that works. It's a weak Portguese team and if you DON'T rise, Portugal may be heading home.

So why is it that I have chosen this match above a Champions League tie or a Clasico match? It's pretty simple. I don't give a flying S about those. THIS is where true men must rise up. It's these kinds of matches that require character. These are the matches that are far more difficult to really put a stamp on, show your influence. So it will tell me a lot if Cristiano takes hold of the game, much like he did in the Euro 2012 match against Holland, which was one of his best ever individual performances.

When I watched that match and saw what Cristiano was doing in the ENTIRE MATCH, I was shocked. I could not believe it was the same player that ghosted most games. Granted, Holland were AWFUL and they got bitch-slapped in all three games and finished with no points. BUT, my dear friends, it does not take away from how Cristiano destroyed the team on his own. Each time he had the ball, something happened. Forget the goals he scored. It was the fact that he kept on taking on player, getting into space and just involving himself throughout the whole game and was easily the man-of-the-match. Sadly though, that player went missing when he was needed against Spain. Remember that counter attack that Portugal had in the final minute? Yeah....that ball that Cristiano hit is having a few ciders on Neptune right now.

So here we are. The first leg against Sweden. Cristiano MUST play well. He cannot afford to be passive and wait for things to happen. Bento is still trying to figure out how to make the team effective. It's still a group of individuals running about and doing their thing.  Cristiano must push Bento to one side and DEMAND the ball. If Cristiano brings that street skill that I know he has, and gets GHETTO on Sweden...then there can be only one winner in this match.


HH