Ronaldo had to cop a fair amount of criticism after blunt performances against Germany and Denmark in Portugal’s opening two games, with rumblings of international retirement being banded about in the press. However, like all great players, CR7 has bounced back to show his worth when it matters, with man-of-the-match performances and three goals against Netherlands and Czech Republic.

After a record-setting domestic season with Real Madrid expectations on the ex-Manchester United forward have gone through the roof, as Portugal rely on the attacker heavily to provide a cutting-edge in the last third. Although Paulo Bento’s men have recorded some good victories in their last games, they will need to step up another level to compete with and challenge world champions Spain.

Ronaldo will know his opponents on Wednesday well, as he will be in direct competition with Los Blancos team-mates Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Alvaro Arbeloa and Xabi Alonso, and take-on other La Liga players that he clashes with on a regular basis. That said, the Spanish side will be more than aware of Ronaldo’s threat, and the Portuguese star can expect close attention from the likes of Arbeloa and Sergio Busquets.

Ronaldo’s individual skill and ability to win the game by himself has been shown both for Real Madrid and Portugal in the recent past, but against Spain the Iberian nation will need the star to play for the team, act like a captain and forget about individual ambition. The likes of Nani, Fabio Coentrao, Joao Moutinho and others will strive to aid their skipper and a collective team effort will be need to conquer the holders.

Portugal go into the game as underdogs, and rightly so given the calibre and record of success of their opponents. However, Ronaldo will know that the game and the potential remainder of the tournament give him the chance to write history and put a stake in the ground. As his personal battle with Lionel Messi wages on, if CR7 can captain the Iberian nation to an unlikely tournament victory he would surely command the Ballon d’Or trophy once more, and do something that the Barcelona man has failed to; succeed on the international scene.

Ronaldo’s name is likely to go down alongside some of the greats when he hangs up his boots, but inspiring an unfancied Portugal team to glory in Ukraine and Poland would be a monumental achievement. Wednesday is Cristiano Ronaldo’s date with destiny, as the star attempts to be spoken of in the same breath as Pele, Maradona, Cruyff and the best in the game’s history.

The post Spain vs Portugal: Cristiano Ronaldo’s date with destiny first appeared on Cristiano Ronaldo Fan | News, Photos, Blog, Pics, Videos.

The Euro 2012 will starts soon, and the clash between Portugal and Germany is one match that is worth to watch. Cristiano Ronaldo, despite the disappointing performance in the previous 3 friendly matches, is still hoping to be the goal machine for Portugal team. It won’t be easy, since he’ll be facing Phillipp Lahm, one of German key player.

The Portugal team in Cristiano Ronaldo’s era is actually one promising generation. World class footballer such as Ronaldo, Luis Nani and Ricardo Quaresma are ready to demolish the German team. Not to mention Fabio Coentrao and Pepe’s presence as a tough and solid defenders, that will make it more difficult for Klose, Muller and Podolski to enter Portugal’s defends.

However, Germany is also one of the team that is favoritable  to  win the Euro 2012. Not surprising though,  considered they had an amazing 34 goals in the qualification round, with only 7 goals conceived.

The players, such as Mesut Ozil, Sami Khedira, Phillipp Lahm, and Podolski, are few of the players that play an important role in their clubs.

As for Cristiano Ronaldo, it will be hard for him to score a goal in the opening match,  since German coach, Joachim Low is said to place 2 or 3 players to keep an eye on his every moves. It will be a tough task for Captain Ronaldo.

Team Squad for Euro 2012

PORTUGAL

Goalkeepers: Beto (Cluj), Eduardo (Benfica), Rui Patricio (Sporting Lisbon).

Defenders : Bruno Alves (Zenit St Petersburg), Fabio Coentrao (Real Madrid), Joao Pereira (Sporting Lisbon), Pepe (Real Madrid), Nelson (Real Betis), Ricardo Costa (Valencia), Rolando (Porto).

Midfielders: Carlos Martins (Granada), Joao Moutinho (Porto), Manuel Fernandes (Besiktas), Miguel Veloso (Genoa), Raul Meireles (Chelsea), Ruben Micael (Real Zaragoza).

Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Hugo Almeida (Besiktas), Helder Postiga (Real Zaragoza), Nani (Manchester United), Nelson Oliveira (Benfica), Ricardo Quaresma (Besiktas), Silvestre Varela (Porto).

GERMANY

Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Tim Wiese (Hoffenheim), Ron-Robert Zieler (Hannover).

Defenders: Holger Badstuber (Bayern Munich), Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Mats Hummels (Dortmund), Per Mertesacker (Arsenal), Bendikt Howedes (Schalke), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Marcel Schmelzer (Dortmund).

Midfielders: Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Lars Bender (Leverkusen), Ilkay Gundogan (Dortmund), Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich), Marco Reus (Moenchengladbach), Mario Gotze (Dortmund), Mesut Ozil (Real Madrid).

Forwards: Mario Gomez (Bayern Munich), Miroslav Klose (Lazio), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Andreas Schurrle (Leverkusen), Lukas Podolski (Cologne).

The post Profile and Preview : Portugal vs Germany (9 June 2012)Euro 2012 first appeared on Cristiano Ronaldo Fan | News, Photos, Blog, Pics, Videos.