The two goals against Uzbekistan were not moments of showing speed or superb technique. That is a lesson about the hunting instinct that has been polished over more than two decades. In the opening goal, Ronaldo did not beat defenders with long-range sprints but with the ability to read situations, choose positions and appear where the ball finds. Top defenders are always afraid of the striker type that makes them not know where he is, and Ronaldo has lived by that instinct throughout his career.
The second goal continued to show the maturity of a "killer". Ronaldo skillfully separated from the two center-backs, opened the corner to receive the ball and then finished coldly like a pass into the net. At the age of 41, he may no longer be the storm of his peak years, but his ability to decide the match is still intact.
What is more noteworthy is that Ronaldo is no longer just a scorer. His shares about the free kick that led to Nuno Mendes' goal show that a CR7 is ready to become a part of the team instead of always being the absolute center. Experience, voice in the dressing room and inspiring ability are helping him continue to make a big impact on the Portuguese team.
Time can take away speed, momentum or explosion, but cannot take away Ronaldo's aspirations. At an age when many legends only appear in documentaries, CR7 is still playing and making his mark at the World Cup. Perhaps that is what makes him special. If football is a journey to overcome personal limits, very few people in history have pursued that race as persistently and fiercely as Cristiano Ronaldo.
Regarding the matches on June 25 and early morning of June 26, the focus will be the confrontation between Scotland and Brazil. Scotland is facing a historic opportunity when they can first pass the World Cup group stage. However, the final obstacle is Brazil - a team that is showing signs of accelerating at the right time under the leadership of Carlo Ancelotti. Selecao possesses superior squad depth and experience in big matches. If they want to create one of the most memorable shocks of the tournament, Scotland will have to play the best match in their World Cup history.
In another group, South Korea enters the match against South Africa with self-determination in hand. The Asian representative is rated higher thanks to the quality of the squad and international competition experience. However, South Africa is always famous for its abundant physical strength and energetic playing style. This is likely to be a match where stars like Son Heung-min or Lee Kang-in need to speak up to make a difference.
Another notable story is the journey of Curacao. After the sensational draw against Ecuador, the small Caribbean team is dreaming of a new feat. But Ivory Coast is a completely different challenge.
The African representative only needs a draw to qualify for the next round, while Curacao must aim for the biggest victory in the country's football history if they want to continue writing the fairy tale.
In Group F, the Netherlands is showing the image of a true championship contender after a convincing victory over Sweden. The clash with Tunisia is an opportunity for the "Orange Hurricane" to assert their strength. Although Tunisia has run out of opportunities to advance and can play with a more comfortable mentality.
Closing the matches is the confrontation considered as the final of Group F between Japan and Sweden. Japan brought excitement after a 4-0 victory over Tunisia, while Sweden owns the Alexander Isak - Viktor Gyokeres duo with very high ability to create breakthroughs. This is a competition between the speed and technique of Asian football and the strength and directness of North European football.
