Fernando Santos is a very sane man. Very sane. Almost completely wise, in that awkward way of being both silly and tragic. Without speaking the same language, Diego Alonso understands him perfectly, although for any inconvenience they have Tite as a translator. The three could create a party.
That is why, in a stadium in Qatar (the temple of conservatism distributed among millions of dollars), in a Portugal-Uruguay (where the proposals of conservatism are distributed among 22 players), that a spontaneous green is launched with a pullover of Superman that says “save Ukraine” on the chest and “respect for Iranian women” on the back and an LGBTIQ flag on the right arm, makes it seem like it’s raining up. Recklessness pouring down in the desert. And, as a backdrop, an Iranian referee taking the flag out of the field is irony (or extreme premeditation) slipping.
So, something had to happen in football too. And Bruno Fernandes arrived, who along with Rodrigo Bentancur was the only one on the pitch who made magic prevail over reason. So much so that his center became a shot and a goal at the same time. Cristiano hindered the goalkeeper Rochet, but did not touch it.
Now CR7, more than combing goals, combs gray hair. For him, that age is gone, definitely. How nice it was for soccer. He knows that this World Cup is the last destination of a trip from which he will never return. That is why it does not matter that they replace him at 80. Nor that Bruno appears as the man of the match. The glory days of Portugal are his, although the yagruma, the hummingbird and the guitar have others.
You must feel like Figo in 2006, when the captain fed on his youth and the talent of Deco or Simao to boost the team. To experience the entire Cup in Qatar, just like 16 years ago, the Portuguese may have to marginalize his figure in the background. Cristiano does not need sweet lies or great truths to endure. The only way he will be able to sing Happiness is by raising the trophy. And that’s it.
Since the trophy is the only thing that matters, we must talk about the King of Cups first, although there were other spectacular matches. Brazil on the field is the face of its coach. Without Neymar there is neither laughter nor dancing, but today Tite was convinced that at least Rodrygo causes a rictus. Like Santos or Alonso, it seems that the DT does not use all the offensive arsenal he has. He is sick of pragmatism and a 1-0 against Switzerland is enough for him. Just as Casemiro is enough to recover balls and score one of the great goals of the World Cup.
Brazil and Portugal finish first in their groups this second round. They end up secured for the round of 16. But does so much seriousness end up convincing?
There is a pleasure in madness that only the mad know. Cameroon and Serbia savored it. The Balkans needed almost 180 seconds to come back from 0-1 and the Africans 151 to equalize 1-3. The prayers of his bar took effect, and Vincent Aboubakar entered the exchange possessed by the spirit of Roger Mila. Until the 63rd run of that challenge, according to Mister Chip, no African player since Milla in Italy 90 (vs. Colombia), had participated in two goals in less than four minutes.
Serbia made a mistake in their defensive strategy by playing offside and the ones who almost left the party are them. As in Russia 2018, they will have a final against their archenemy, Switzerland. Xhaka and Shaquiri are already preparing a celebration. Mitrovic, Tadic and Milenkovic-Savic will want to lock up the butterfly this time.
Where anarchy also reigned was in Ghana-South Korea. However, the goals came from players who found the cross. The black stars with two passes from the left took an early lead. Vento, the Portuguese (yes, another one) who leads the Asians, reacted and put Kang-In Lee almost at the start of the complementary game.
The Mallorca midfielder, the second most talented man on his team behind leader Son, and who, due to discrepancies with DT, almost missed out on the World Cup, unlocked the clash and made the attack flow. At 167 seconds, Gue-Sung Cho’s head was the most sought after in that part of the peninsula. A tall double. But Mohammed Kudus had the nose of Asamoah Gyan and did not believe in Asian epic. Three shots on goal and three goals was the balance for the Ghanaians, who will play their qualification for the round of 16 against Uruguay.
Fernando Santos, Diego Alonso and Tite are not sane. Maybe another class of crazy.
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