By David Owen in Cape Town
June 21 – Perhaps it will be Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup after all.
The 25-year-old Real Madrid and former Manchester United star is probably at the peak of his career.
Yet, lately, he has shown little of his Old Trafford form in Portugal’s red and green colours.
He collected little but a yellow card in his country’s disappointing opening match against Cote d’Ivoire.
Today in rainswept Cape Town, however, Ronaldo and Portugal’s World Cup came alive.
In a rematch of the famous 1966 World Cup quarter-final, Carlos Queiroz’s men simply swept North Korea aside, winning 7-0.
It wasn’t a typical Portuguese performance, in that the damage was inflicted not by the intricacy of their close passing or the skill of their wide men, but the timing and quality of their midfield runners – notably Raul Meireles.
Ronaldo himself again achieved little in the first half.
After the interval, though, the deftness of his touch in testing conditions was nothing short of breathtaking, matched only at this tournament by the universally-praised Lionel Messi and Robinho.
The longer the match went on, the more North Korea disintegrated and the more complete Ronaldo’s mastery became.
He contented himself for the most part with playing his team-mates into space with well-judged, seemingly effortless flicks and passes, accompanied by an indulgent smile whenever his team-mates failed to make the most of the situations created.
But in the 70th minute, he crashed a venomous dipping shot against the bar and three minutes from the end the inevitable happened as he notched the sixth Portuguese goal.
It was a strange one, with the ball at one point bobbling on the nape of his neck.
Nevertheless, his near-perfect sureness of touch in the final half-hour will have been noted with concern by all the leading contenders here.
It was probably not surprising, given the scoreline and the quality of his team’s display, that Queiroz said afterwards that Portugal “love” the much-criticised Jabulani ball.
Ronaldo, nowadays Portuguese captain, actually gave his man of the match award to Tiago (pictured), whose accomplished display in the midfield engine-room was crowned by two goals.
“When you arrive and Ronaldo gives you a gift, it is always a good feeling,” Tiago said.
On Friday (June 25) they face Brazil in Durban, in one of the most mouthwatering clashes of the tournament’s opening round.
South American sides have had everything their own way so far, winning eight and drawing two of the 10 games they have contested.
If he can build on the promise of today’s display though, albeit against a much inferior side, Ronaldo has enough in his locker to trouble even Lucio and Co.
Maybe, just maybe this outstanding yet infuriating player is getting ready to seize this World Cup by the scruff of its neck.
Contact the writer of this story at zib.l1734785527labto1734785527ofdlr1734785527owedi1734785527sni@n1734785527ewo.d1734785527ivad1734785527