FIFA WC: Criticism is not aimed at just one player, says Portugal defender Dias
New York, June 20
Portugal defender Ruben Dias has given a vote of confidence to Cristiano Ronaldo as the team begins preparing for its second Group K match in the World Cup.
Ronaldo was singled out for criticism on the day he became the oldest outfield player to start a game in World Cup history in his side's 1-1 draw against DR Congo, after a display in which he touched the ball just 25 times while playing the entire game, while also failing to manage a shot on target, give an assist to a team-mate or beat a rival in an attempted dribble.
A more mobile player could have given Portugal a better outlet in attack, but Dias insists the squad is still behind the 41-year-old, who is playing in his sixth World Cup finals, reported Xinhua.
"Cristiano, of course, is used to dealing with the media pressure we usually face in the club, the national team, world tournaments, and European competitions. In this sort of competition, it will never be perfect," Dias told the press.
"Criticism isn't directed at just one player. Cristiano is the center of attention, but I think we're all involved. I don't think anything out of the ordinary is happening. It's always been like this since I've been here. I think it will continue to be this way in the future."
"Criticism is not significant for us, it's noise and part of the competition ... It's all noise," continued the defender, who said it "always happens if you have a match that doesn't go well."
"We're closing ourselves off from unnecessary criticism," he added.
Portugal plays Uzbekistan on June 23 before ending its group stage against Colombia five days later.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Dias is right to call it "noise" — media loves to build heroes and then tear them down. Ronaldo's experience alone is valuable, even if he doesn't score. But I do wonder if Portugal has a Plan B up front. Let's see against Uzbekistan.
Honestly, criticism is fair game. You can't be a superstar and expect everyone to clap when you underperform. Touching the ball just 25 times in a full game? That's not just bad — it's invisible. Even Sachin had to face heat after poor innings. Ronaldo needs to step up or accept being benched.
As a Portugal fan, I feel sorry for Ronaldo. He's given everything for the national team. But age catches everyone — even CR7. The coach needs to decide: is this a nostalgia tour or a serious World Cup campaign? Right now it feels like the former.
Dias is a class act for defending his teammate publicly, but you don't need a microscope to see Ronaldo's struggles. The team should build around younger talents like Leão and Ramos. Mad respect for Ronaldo's legacy, but sometimes you have to know when to pass the torch.
This is classic — "criticism is just noise" until it affects the team's morale. Ronaldo's ego has always been a double-edged sword. Let's hope he proves everyone wrong against Uzbekistan, otherwise Portugal might not even make it out of the group. 🤞
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.