‘Very, very weak’: Rooney and Quaresma storm Portugal midfield over Cristiano Ronaldo failure in World Cup finals

Portugal’s exit from the World Cup has drawn increased scrutiny on the team described by many as the best in the country’s history, with both Wayne Rooney and Ricardo Quaresma questioning whether the midfield had done enough to get the best out of Cristiano Ronaldo during what proved to be the 41-year-old’s World Cup final.

Their criticism came in the wake of Portugal’s 1-0 Round of 16 defeat to Spain, a result that ended Ronaldo’s international World Cup journey and shifted attention towards a midfield unit featuring Bruno Fernandes, Vitenha and Joao Neves who entered the tournament with huge expectations but finished with a disappointing attacking contribution.

Ronaldo withdraws after Portugal’s early exit

Portugal arrived at the tournament widely tipped as genuine contenders, boasting a squad full of established stars and emerging talent.

Much of the discussion leading up to the tournament centered on whether Ronaldo, now 41, can still shine in the presence of one of Europe’s most talented midfielders.Instead, Portugal’s round of 16 campaign ended in a narrow defeat by Spain, bringing an emotional end to Ronaldo’s final World Cup appearance.Before the match, Ronaldo confirmed that the tournament would be his last.“That’s right, this was my last World Cup.

“There will be time to think about everything else, to be with my family, and I want to not make decisions when I’m stressed. Life goes on.”After the defeat, the Portugal captain spoke about his international career.“I won three titles with Portugal. Before Cristiano, Portugal had never won a single title in history. I won Euro 2016, which for me is like winning the World Cup.He added: “I leave with a clear conscience and gave my best for Portugal.”

Although Ronaldo finally ended his long wait for a goal in the knockout stages of the World Cup during this tournament, the statistics behind Portugal’s campaign suggest that he has often been operated with limited services.

Rooney questions Portugal’s approach

Speaking on BBC World Cup coverage, former Manchester United team-mate Wayne Rooney said Portugal had repeatedly failed to capitalize on Ronaldo’s greatest remaining strength, which was his movement and finishing inside the penalty area.“If you play with Cristiano Ronaldo, you have to use him,” Rooney said.“The ball could have been put in the penalty area here, by Bruno Fernandes. But they refused to put it.“If you play with it, you have to use it!”“On set-pieces, he’s still a big threat for Portugal. Don’t play him the ball 30 yards from goal, that’s not his strength anymore. Send it to him inside the box where he’s still effective.”

Rooney’s assessment was based on comments he made earlier in the tournament, when he compared Portugal’s relationship with Ronaldo and Argentina’s commitment to Lionel Messi.“You always combine Ronaldo and Messi because they are two of the best players the game has ever seen.“But the Argentine players seem to be on Messi’s side. They are all behind him. Obviously Messi has been fantastic in this World Cup.“I don’t get those feelings from Portuguese players.”Rooney also admitted that age has naturally changed Ronaldo’s style, with the veteran striker no longer having the mobility that characterized much of his career.

Quaresma offers a frank assessment of Portugal’s midfield

Former Portugal winger Ricardo Quaresma offered an equally critical assessment after the defeat, questioning the team’s performance and the widespread belief that this team represents Portugal’s strongest generation.“Everyone was saying this was the best team in Portugal’s history, but by what means? What did they win? We’ll go home with our heads down.”Quaresma devoted special criticism to the midfield.“In midfield, we have great players, a lot of talent, but they were very weak in the World Cup. The attack was the same, the defense was missing.“Roberto Martinez did not inspire any confidence in me. We need to go into this match with a lot more fun. We came out of the tournament with a national team that everyone described as ‘the best team in history’.”

Speaking directly to Portuguese defender Ruben Dias during a podcast discussion, Quaresma also criticized the team’s conservative playing style.“I don’t agree with what you’re saying. I think you could have done more, because you’re at a very high level.“I felt like you were playing too much back, too sideways, not getting too many shots on goal… I talked about possession, but possession doesn’t win games.”

Statistics confirm Portugal’s lack of creativity

Rooney and Quaresma’s criticism boosted Portugal’s tournament numbers.Despite boasting the immense talent of Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha and Joao Neves, Portugal’s star-studded midfield has largely failed to spark their attack during the World Cup.

While Bruno Fernandes managed to provide assists and create some chances, his partners Vitinha and Joao Neves struggled badly with their creativity, facing little threat throughout the entire season. This apparent lack of fluency severely stifled Portugal’s attack, leaving them stagnant in the final third before their eventual round of 16 exit at the hands of Spain.

Earlier in the competition, Thierry Henry questioned whether Ronaldo’s presence was still better for Portugal’s attack.

But after the round of 16 exit, the discussion expanded significantly.Instead of placing the responsibility solely on the veteran striker, both Rooney and Quaresma pointed out that there was a disconnect between the midfield and the Portuguese striker. They said that for a team built on technical control and possession, the failure to provide consistent support for one of football’s greatest players became one of the defining themes of Ronaldo’s last World Cup.