Bleacher Report - Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo: Looking Strong After Ankle Injury

Sudip Bagui — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:53:11 -0500

Cristiano Ronaldo finally made his return for Real Madrid against Swiss team FC Zurich after 55 days of injury sustained against Marseille.

He came on for club captain Raul in the 70th minute, much to the delight of the Real Madrid supporters at the Santiago Bernabeu. In the 20 minutes that he played, he was able to display many of his mind-boggling tricks and even some goalscoring chances, and despite not playing for 6 weeks, he did not show any sign of rustiness.

Ronaldo's first touches were simple passes to other teammates. Later on, he was able to embark on some fantastic runs that caused a certain amount of panic in the Zurich backline.

Ronaldo was also able to show that he still hadn't lost his trickery by displaying a couple of stepovers and other tricks. Ronaldo was also able to shoot from about 20 yards out at one point. The shot was blocked and CR9 had another chance which he shot just wide.

Later on, Ronaldo passed to Granero for a give and go which Granero followed through on. Ronaldo was able to get a well placed shot but the keeper made a fine save to deny the world's most expensive player a goal on his return.

In the end, Ronaldo had a thoroughly satisfying performance in his return.

Rating: 7.2

Read more Cristiano Ronaldo news on BleacherReport.com

FIFA World Cup 2010: Looking Out on The Horizon

Christopher Potter — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:30:48 -0500

'...And France are going to the World Cup Finals. Huge relief for Raymond Domenech...' After his controversial handball set up William Gallas' undeserving extra-time winner in France's decisive second-leg World Cup qualifying knock-out match, Thierry Henry said he 'considered quitting' international football, after the FFF left him open to a barrage of invectives and viriol in the international press and media. Out in a North African cauldron otherwise known as Omdurman, Antar Yahia's stunning 40th minute strike saw Algeria progress at the expense of their opponents, bitter rivals Egypt under the watchful eye of a 15,000-strong heavily armed and armoured security force. Now that the dust begins to settle after the tempestuous final round of qualifiers, it is right to let bygones be bygones and focus on Soccer City, Johannesburg. For it is here, on Friday 11 June 2010, that South Africa will play host to their first World Cup finals, having beaten off competition from Morocco to host the prestigious and lucrative tournament after much deliberation among FIFA officials. Since that glorious moment, back in Zurich on 15 May 2004, there has been much negativity in the build-up to the tournament focussing on safety concerns and the country's inadequate infrastructure, resources and footballing heritage. South African authorities will be hoping that these prove to be without foundation, and will look to the tournament as a demonstration and celebration of the country's motto 'Unity in Diversity' after many years of hardship and suppression brough about by racial tension and political corruption. In ten venues, over the course of one month, 32 national teams, largely a Who's Who of the most celebrated footballing names, with one or two surprise qualifiers thrown in for good measure, will compete for football's ultimate prize, the Jules Rimet Trophy. Let's focus our attention on which teams and players will light up the sparkling stadia and make the fans party into the balmy African night...

Begin Slideshow

The FIFA World Cup: An Exploitation of Human Emotion ?

raam shanker — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:00:46 -0500

Every four years we’re treated to a sporting reality show in which 32 football teams, each representing a country compete for the “ultimate prize” in football—The World Cup.

In retrospection what made football the beautiful game are its simplicity, easy to remember rules and subliminal skills. What made it a global sensation is the advent of technology and emergence of new media over time.

In the good old days people used to walk to the local grounds to see their favoured teams, have a few pints, relish the little joys in life, shake hands at the end of it all and go back home to reality. What started as a means of entertainment for factory workers and miners became a full time source of income for a lot of people as the decades progressed.

Today however we have witnessed a change in the way the sport is perceived. Even though the basic premise of the game has not changed, what has drastically changed is its image. It is no more a working man’s game and bears no resemblance to its humble roots. The biggest reason is technology.

The growth in technology has changed the way we see the game. Firstly the radio and then the television have changed the way we see football. Today cameras placed strategically all over the stadium beam images on to a satellite spinning a few miles above us that relays images back to us sitting at home with our beers.

This global reach has opened up new avenues for generating revenue. For starters, the players themselves get paid a king’s ransom. Add to it, the endorsements, sponsorship deals, media appearances, jersey sales, merchandising etc, you see a human advertisement hoarding banking on world-wide viewership.

Viewership in layman terms means the amount of people watching the event. So it’s obvious that bigger stars attract a larger audience. Larger audience means wider reach and hence more selling opportunities. The rest is statistics. If you have more opportunities to sell, the probability of selling is greater and so is the potential to make money.

Question: How do I get more people to watch the event? It’s a no brainer; as long as I ensure famous players playing for famous teams are playing in the global event, I am guaranteed a good viewership. This in turn is linked not just with advertising revenue, but also player based revenue, which is a result of the passion, love and affection displayed by the fans all over.

Now having said all this, let’s face the truth; we’re humans. We have emotions and we’re passionate about certain things ranging from our favourite pint of beer to the football teams and players we love and support.

More importantly it is this love of this beautiful game that drives us to commit actions that display our love and affection. We buy those products endorsed by our favourite players because deep down in our sub-conscious mind we feel a bond forming between us and our idols. On a superficial level it relates thus; they win, we’re happy, they lose we’re sad.

Day-to-day life would be too monotonous if it weren’t for these little feelings, the heart stopping moments that make us laugh and cry and the memories of such moments spent with our loved ones that we cherish. That’s probably why we’re not bothered about the exploitation of our emotions. Come to think of it, emotions make us who we are, they make us human.

Read more Cristiano Ronaldo news on BleacherReport.com

Real Madrid vs Racing Santander Online Football Preview: La Liga

Sports Betting Review — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:41:29 -0500

Real Madrid v Racing Santander

Nov. 21 - Estadio Santiago Bernabéu

Kick-Off: 20:00 CET/19:00 GMT

Real Madrid

Ahead of this Real Madrid vs Racing match, Cristiano Ronaldo is on the verge of returning to action.

The Portuguese playmaker has been doing light training and is expected to be back to full training by Friday, prior this Real Madrid-Racing Santander match. Still, it is highly unlikely that Ronaldo will feature after missing nine games with the injury.

While Real Madrid will welcome back their star midfielder, they will certainly feel they have enough firepower to deal with Racing. Real Madrid have won back-to-back derby matches in La Liga against Getafe and Atletico Madrid.

In Real’s 3-2 victory over rivals Atletico, Manuel Pellegrini’s men looked to be cruising to an easy victory ahead 3-0, but Sergio Ramos was sent off and Atletico was able to cut the score to 3-2 with 10 minutes remaining.

Still, Real Madrid showed their class and held on to the three points which shows promise ahead of this match.

Racing Santander

Racing Santander have had a disappointing season so far. The club that showed so much promise over the past few seasons has won only once in the league this season.

Racing’s latest match was one to forget, as Athletic Bilbao walked all over them en route to a 2-0 derby victory. Racing never got going in the match and Bilbao won deservedly.

Oscar Serrano is one of only a handful of Racing players that have showed signs of life this season. The striker has gathered a team-leading three goals through 10 games.

Racing will hope that his energy spreads throughout the team in this match, as they have looked uncharacteristically weak to start the season.

Prediction

Los Blancos won both Real Madrid and Racing Santander matches last season, by the scorelines of 2-0 and 1-0 respectively.

Simply put, Real are the better team and Racing lack form, and this should show on Saturday.

Real Madrid v Racing Santander Prediction: Madrid 3 - Racing 1.

Find the BEST Real Madrid vs Racing Odds and Betting Tips at Sports Betting Review now!

Read more Cristiano Ronaldo news on BleacherReport.com

Manchester United Will Need Jonny Evans to Have the Vidic Effect

Nathan Lowe — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:33:13 -0500

Most casual observers of Premier League football attribute Manchester United's trilogy of consecutive championships to be largely based on an ingredient no longer present: Cristiano Ronaldo.

But it's intellectual evasion to simply attribute anything to just one factor. The current Galactico's emergence into the world class certainly paralleled United's resurgence against Chelsea's brief dominance in the top division, but his influence was not absolute.

Often overlooked—as defenders are—was the capturing of Patty Evra and especially Nemanja Vidic in January of 2006.

Despite each taking time to acclimate to the British game, both Evra's swinging wing play and particularly Vidic's guerilla mentality provided the foundation for players like Ronaldo to get forward with complete abandon.

Then United started winning titles again.

If that trend is to continue, it'll likely be predicated on defense once again.

Unable to rely on that big, red Ronaldo button—the emergency pressure valve, activated after each successful defense, launching marauding counter-attacks—now United are stagnant getting down the field.

Often Wayne Rooney drops deep, sensing need, to spray the ball to the right, and if a cross comes in, it's only Dimitar Berbatov in the middle to fend for himself. Or vice versa, as Berbatov links play, leaving Rooney's considerable head—but small stature—in the center alone. Owen and Rooney together only exacerbates the inefficacy of the tactic.

When once they sprang forward, they now progress more deliberately, making their attack less incisive, their defense more important.

As such, any success in Mancunian parts will be founded again upon a murderin' Vidic with his new partner Jonny Evans.

Rio Ferdinand is mercifully taking ample time to tend to his injuries. He can afford to, already cemented in Fabio Capello's England plans. Therefore, Evans has at least two months of consistent football ahead of him.

In the games he's earned this season and last, the Northern Irishman has proven more than willing and capable to fill Vidic's position in the left of central defense. The right-footed Vidic actually seems more comfortable in Ferdinand's vacated position to the right of Evans.

Just a fortnight ago, against Didier Drogba—formerly Vidic's favored nemesis—Evans cheekily and knowingly stamped the Ivorian's chest in a pugnacious display which brought joy to anyone rooting red, as Vidic himself chuckled on the sideline while Drogba writhed epileptically.

It's the same physical, simple-minded approach that Vidic himself brought to the club in 2006, perpetuating what is now a decade-long dynasty for United.

Each player will have a chance to put their head in where it hurts as United chase Chelsea at the summit. Without Ferdinand, Evans should find a long run of games alongside the fan-favored Serbian.

If Jonny Evans continues to impress fans, pundits, and his manager, while causing our rivals' show ponies to spasm comically, Ferdinand might not be—nor should be—featuring even into the new year, or even well beyond.

Read more Cristiano Ronaldo news on BleacherReport.com