SEVILLE, June 26: Cristiano Ronaldo certainly attracts most of the attention, just not all of the attention.
Ronaldo is on the verge of becoming the all-time leading scoring in international football. He can set that record on Sunday when Portugal faces Belgium in the round at 16 of the European Championship.
Belgium coach Roberto Martinez wants to make sure his players won’t only be looking at Ronaldo, though.
“When you put a plan against a player specifically, you could be hurt by other players,” Martinez said. “Of course, Cristiano Ronaldo seems to be the player that gets the right moment, that right pass and the right chance and you have to be always aware, but you have to defend the 10 players of Portugal in the same measure.”
Martinez said Portugal has “an incredible accumulation” of good players in its squad to support Ronaldo, from Bernardo Silva to Diogo Jota to Bruno Fernandes to Renato Sanches to João Moutinho.
But Belgium also has its threats, from Kevin De Bruyne to Eden Hazard to Romelu Lukaku, who has three goals entering the knockout stages.
De Bruyne and Hazard, along with Axel Witsel, are back after gradually returning to the team during the group matches. They had not been completely available during Belgium’s preparations because of injuries.
The Red Devils, ranked No. 1 in the world, have won 13 straight games, including its three group games at Euro 2020 and all 10 qualifiers for the tournament.
Belgium had two more rest days than Portugal for a match that is expected to be played in hot conditions in southern Spain.
There was also concern from both teams about the field conditions at La Cartuja Stadium, which was built for the 1999 track world championships.
Portugal had only one win in 90 minutes during the entire tournament at Euro 2016, when it eventually broke through with its first major title by beating host France in the final. Belgium is now the team trying to end its title drought and lift its first major trophy. It was runner-up at the European Championship in 1980, and finished third three years ago at the World Cup for its best finish at that tournament. (AP)
