Iceland: Portugal pair deserve acting Oscars
(From left) Portugal’s Nani, Cristiano Ronaldo and Andre Gomes warm up during a Euro 2016 training session in St Etienne yesterday. – AFP pic
ST ETIENNE: The war of words has begun. Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo and defender Pepe have been accused by Iceland coach Lars Lagerback of being serial cheats.
Ahead of their European Championship Group F clash in St Etienne today (tomorrow morning Singapore time), Lagerback said the duo could land roles in Hollywood because of their play-acting.
Iceland will be playing their first match at a major international finals against Portugal, and Lagerback called for retrospective action against players who try to dupe the referee, while naming Ronaldo and Pepe as serial offenders.
“Portugal have one of the best players in the world in Ronaldo, but he’s also an excellent actor,” said the 67-year-old to reporters in France, while remarking that the Real Madrid pair had play-acted during the Champions League final last month.
“In the final of the Champions League against Atletico Madrid, we saw another performance from someone who could be in Hollywood.
“I mention Pepe. I mean, you can see the clips … for me, that is acting, really, of high class. But I don’t know what demands they have in Hollywood. I don’t like that. I’d like it if they were able to watch the videos to retrospectively punish that sort of thing.” Ronaldo and his team-mates will not take too kindly to Lagerback’s claims, and Iceland may be made to pay.
Portugal coach Fernando Santos must now decide whether he wants to throw the always unpredictable but supremely gifted Ricardo Quaresma into the Euro 2016 fray, which could be at the expense of former Manchester United forward Luis Nani.
An attack featuring Quaresma and Ronaldo would make Portugal one of the most entertaining teams in the tournament, but the wily Santos was making no promises even after the win over Estonia.
“It’s not a case of Quaresma plus 10, it’s Quaresma and another 22. There are 23 players in the squad and all have equal chances of playing, but it’s an excellent headache to have,” he said.
Portugal will need all the creative talent they can muster in the Group F match in St Etienne against an Iceland side who are making their debut in a major tournament.
– REUTERS
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