According to Portuguese newspaper Record, Portugal secured an important victory in Oslo, at what is arguably one of the most challenging away stadiums in European football today. After laboriously claiming three points against Wales, Jorge Jesus made significant adjustments to the national team, and those changes worked remarkably well. However, is it fair to attribute all the positive impact to Ronaldo sitting on the bench? A football match cannot be determined by a single factor alone.

Portugal secured an important victory in Oslo, and Ullevaal Stadium has now become one of the most inhospitable places for visiting teams in European football. After a hard-fought three points against a Wales side no longer at its peak, in a match at Estádio José Alvalade, Jorge Jesus made significant adjustments to the national team, and the results were remarkable.

However, is it fair to attribute all these positive changes to Ronaldo sitting on the bench? A football match is not determined by a single factor, so those who insist on oversimplifying and commenting based solely on this reasoning will inevitably be wrong.

The real issue runs much deeper, particularly regarding how Portugal, with eleven physically fit players, can press high, disrupt the opponent's build-up, and regain possession early. This style of play, which aligns more closely with modern top teams, cannot be executed by ten players doing the work of eleven; it only succeeds through teamwork, unity, and dedication.

With Ronaldo in the team, Portugal's defensive work starts roughly ten meters behind the halfway line; without him, Portugal can press directly near the opponent's penalty area. Let it be noted, this is not a minor detail, but a fundamental change touching the very foundations of the game and tactical logic! What I'm saying is, at 41 years old, Ronaldo no longer possesses the physical condition of his younger days, but does that mean he should never be called up again? Considering he can still contribute meaningfully in 15 or 20 minutes of high-intensity play; considering the motivational effect he can have on teammates when in the right frame of mind; and considering the psychological and tactical pressure he exerts on opponents, Ronaldo remains valuable to Portugal – and he should not be "repaid" for his exceptional contributions to his country over the last 23 years by being offered a starting spot as though it were a debt.

The question is whether Ronaldo himself will accept this reality as I've described it, or whether he still believes he must be "Ronaldo plus ten others" among the eleven players. Only he can answer this question.

Following the victory against Wales, articles were written suggesting that this Nations League would be a transition tournament for Portugal, and that Portugal no longer has a player capable of carrying the entire team. I hope Ronaldo can contribute to this transitional era for the national team, using his presence off the pitch to demonstrate the brilliance he once displayed on it.

Unlike their Latin counterparts, the Portuguese have a bad habit of belittling their own achievements. If we rank well internationally, someone will say the rankings are unreliable; if we receive international awards, someone will say they're worthless; if someone says we're among the safest countries in the world, it's only because they haven't read our gossip tabloids. This self-denial even extends to Portugal's Age of Discovery; despite genuinely opening new worlds, we are compelled by a spirit of denialism to misinterpret history, judging 15th-century reality by 21st-century standards.

The same applies in sports, as the Nations League demonstrates: we've won this competition twice because its level isn't high; even if all national teams fielded their strongest lineups, stadiums were full, and television ratings peaked, it wouldn't change this obsession with mediocrity. For those stubbornly refusing to believe in our moments of excellence, the thrilling clash between England and Spain in this round (also a Nations League match) might be worth reconsidering the Nations League's value – though you can never "wake those pretending to sleep."

Diterjemahkan oleh AI.

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