8 days ago.
Portugal regularly used a 4 4 2 formation in qualifying.
Whether Guedash plays just behind Ronaldo
or alongside him, we will just have to wait and see.
Portugal
have played in more World Cups with Cristiano Ronaldo
than without. This their 4th with their talisman.
It's their 7th World Cup in all.
Gianluca Rocchi from Italy is in charge.
2 Italian assistants, Ryuji Sato from Japan
is the 4th official.
And back in Moscow, there is the lineup of VAR officials led by Massimiliano
Erati from Italy.
David de Gea was an ever present in qualifying. Many of the Spanish team we know would have started no matter who the coach is. Sergio Busquets is arguably Spain's most important player. Andres Iniesta scored the extra time winner when Spain beat the Netherlands in the 2010 World Cup final.
Sergio Ramos captains Spain. New coach Fernando Hierro was Ramos's hero when he was growing up. Diego Costa leads the attack.
4 of this starting eleven started the World Cup final in South Africa 8 years ago.
Fernando Fernando Santos.
Portugal qualified for this World Cup
on his 63rd birthday
last October
by beating Switzerland.
And I bet he never thought he'd be sitting there.
Fernando Hierro, the former Spanish international and Real Madrid defender, promoted
from his post of sporting director
to head coach.
A huge draw as this match gets underway.
Spain and Portugal who have both lost their opening match in the last two World Cups.
The stage is set here in Sochi for what could be a World Cup classic to remember for many years.
It is a humid night despite the late kickoff time. It's 9 o'clock in the evening here local time.
2 Iberian neighbors,
Cristiano Ronaldo facing 4 of his Real Madrid teammates.
Portugal in the all
red. Spain tonight in their change colors
of white with the red trim. Won by David Silva.
It's away by Jose Fonte.
Looking for the run
up front of.
Ronaldo,
little double step over to start with.
Pepe.
Here's William.
Good add up.
Good add up. The little ball in field. Looking for Fernandez.
Guernes.
Shot was blocked, but maybe Portugal can get a shot in here.
Good opening from
the 2,016
European champions.
They've won 79%
of their competitive matches under Fernando Santos. Just 2 defeats
in 29.
As for Spain, the start of a new era under Fernando Hierro.
They were unbeaten
under Julian Lopetegui,
and I wonder
what he's feeling now.
The deposed
national team coach who was unveiled as Real Madrid's new coach yesterday,
Ronaldo.
Is that a penalty? It is.
Inside the opening 3 minutes, Cristiano Ronaldo fell in the penalty area, and Portugal
have the opportunity to take the lead.
The challenge coming in.
From Nacho.
Ronaldo
sent sprawling.
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And straight away,
the Italian official pointed to the spot.
Cristiano Ronaldo
has scored 7 penalties
for Portugal, but he scored only 3 goals
in his previous
13
World Cup finals appearances.
He's the only Portuguese player to score at 3 different World Cups.
Can he be the only Portuguese player to score at 4 different World Cups?
Cristiano Ronaldo
against David de Gea.
It's 1 nil Portugal. And was there ever any doubt?
What a start for Portugal.
De Gea goes one way.
Ronaldo goes the other.
It's his 82nd
goal for Portugal
on his
151st
appearance.
It just had to be him.
Portugal
could not have dreamt
of a better beginning
to their opening group b fixture.
It's a nightmare start for
Fernando Iero in Spain.
Play infield by Pique.
Ramos.
Jordi Alba.
Spanish fans all a little quiet.
There are large numbers of supporters of both these countries here in Sochi.
Turn is by Mutinho.
Ronaldo.
Free kick Portugal.
Charge by Busquets.
Cristiano Ronaldo was the 1st player in history to score at 8 successive
major tournaments.
He just keeps creating records.
And, you know, he's only 33 years old.
And given
his physical condition, you really wouldn't bet against him being in Qatar in 4 years' time,
provided Portugal qualify to appear at a 5th World Cup finals.
Ramos.
Sergio Ramos, who ended yesterday's
media conference,
which was full of questions about the managerial
and coaching situation
with Spain by saying, cheer up. We're not at a funeral.
Let's get this World Cup started.
And with that, he stood up and promptly marched out of the room. He did say it with a smile on his face. It has to be said.
But there'll be no smiles in the Spain camp at the moment.
Ronaldo clearly fouled. You can see the referee's position, an absolutely unimpeded view.
And Ronaldo does what
he does best.
Incidentally, talking of him playing at, a 5th World Cup finals in 4 years' time, no player has actually scored
at 5 different World Cup finals.
No doubting Fernando Hieros Pedigree,
former Spanish international,
Real Madrid defender.
29 goals in 89 appearances for Spain, played at 3 World Cup finals.
There was nobody better placed, really, than the
sporting director of the Spanish Football Association
or the Spanish Football Federation to give it its correct title.
Isco.
Looking for Diego Costa.
Here's Iniesta.
Spain really haven't had a
prolonged spell of possession so far. Here's Nacho.
Cocaine couldn't keep hold of it.
Ramos.
Iniesta.
Costa.
Busquets.
Ramos,
2 on that far side.
And 2 in the penalty area, hoping to get on the end of it. The shot comes in
from Silva.
You see David Silva here in a little bit of space.
The 4th highest
goal scorer for Spain, skying that one.
His international debut way back in 2006, David Silva,
who was an unused substitute in the 2010 World Cup final victory.
Played back by Pique.
Ramos.
If you have just joined us, Portugal in front,
Cristiano
Ronaldo with an early penalty
after he was fouled in the penalty area.
Busquets
was, in fact, Portugal's quickest World Cup goal
since 1966.
When they reached the semifinals
with the great Eusebio and company, only to be beaten in the last 4 by the eventual champions England.
Ronaldo's little flick on. Great Ash was trying to get on the end of it.
Alba.
Here's Ramos.
Quickly forward by Isco.
No free kick.
You can hear the reaction from the Spanish supporters.
There's Alba
took a tumble.
Rui Patricio made one appearance at the last World Cup before being injured.
Portuguese goalkeeper, incidentally, one of 4 sporting players in the Portuguese squad who have, this week, served notice on their club that they
wish to terminate their contract because after a rather unsavory incident at the club's training ground.
And that matter will now go to court. William,
Gelson Martins, and Bruno Fernandes are the others.
Pique.
Here's Ramos.
Alex. Spain's captain who always sees a lot of the ball as he brings it out from defense.
Alba.
They're gonna take on Pepe.
Isco.
That's a corner.
Spain's first corner of the match,
and they've taken it short. Plenty of bodies forward in white for Spain.
No way through for Iniesta.
Costa
is the target.
There's a little bit of debate as to whether
it would be Sergio Costa playing up front or maybe Rodrigo, the
other striker.
Diego Costa has won the day.
Here's Rafael Guerrero.
Ronaldo.
Jose Font
hasn't played a great deal of, football in the past year. The Portuguese center half, Font, who's now with, Chinese
club, Delian Yifang.
Nacho, the man who gave away the penalty.
Busquets.
Quiniesto.
Diego Costa.
Can this
targets in the middle?
Cross was too deep, though. Easily gathered by Rui Patricio.
Fernando Hierro is like
a boxer tricks on the edge of the, technical areas.
Constantly moving up and down, urging his players, the newly installed
Spanish national coach.
We're
at Waipo Matinho.
Cedric. Here's Matinho again.
This is Rafael Guerrero.
Guerrero.
Just that little bit of pressure from Costa
meant a slight miss kick from the goalkeeper.
Guaredesh just beaten to it by Koke.
Here's Pique.
Worked out wide by Isco.
Ramos.
Isco
Iniesta.
Slowly making strides forward, Spain.
Iniesta
again.
Silva wanted the ball played forward to him.
Picked up on this at near side by Nacho.
Away by Ronaldo. And Portugal might be able to break away here. It's Gonzalo, Guaydash, and Ronaldo making the run on this near side.
Guaydash will have to go all the way on his own.
The pass was on for a fraction of a second there to Ronaldo,
but the Portuguese captain had to check his run for fear of going offside.
You can see Guedes here just having a little look to his left,
and then rather run up a cul de sac.
Pichang.
It's Pascal Ekad of the night.
Referee was just waiting there to see what might happen.
And as Matinho challenged
for it, then it was Guedes who was caught.
Right.
Sergio Busquets.
Is the 1st player to be cautioned then tonight.
And Spain
have some defending to do.
It's a promising position this for Portugal, and you know
who wants it as well.
It's the familiar
setup.
Will he go for goal? Will he drive it in hoping to get a touch from a teammate?
Everyone knows what's coming.
But Portugal do have somebody else out there just in case the free kick comes in a different direction. It is Ronaldo. It's straight into the wall.