The UEFA Euro 2016 boot battle: Day 21
The first semi-final saw Wales take on Portugal. Wales were without Aaron Ramsey, but had Bale in their team. Portugal had Ronaldo. It was going to be an epic battle of the Real forwards. It is those two who feature in the battle today. Ronaldo representing Nike and Bale starting for Adidas. It was another fantastic match as the knockout stages of this tournament really have impressed… Is something we would have liked to say.
In reality, though, the first half was dull, boring, and mundane. If we are being honest, truthful and candid with you, we are just using, putting in and implementing irrelevant words to try to make it seem like more is being said about an abysmal firs half which if nothing else had a lot of passion but no cutting-edge.
The only chance was a Ronaldo header that went over the crossbar. At last, however, in the 50th minute the game woke up from its metaphorical slumber. Portugal took the lead through, who else but, Ronaldo. As the ball came across, it looked to be metres above the rest. Luckily, the man has the capacity in those beautifully-toned legs of his to get that high. He did so, and rose incredibly to send a powerful header towards goal. There was no stopping it as it crashed into the roof of the net.
He barely had time to flex his muscles, flick his hair and wink at the camera before his side scored again. It was the superstar’s shot which deflected off old Manchester United- teammate Nani to fly into the net. It looked to have killed off Wales, who had been resilient up until that point.
Ten minutes later, Ronaldo had a free-kick that dipped viciously, but only landed on the roof of the net. Joao Mario later missed a glorious chance when he put his effort wide.
Danilo Pereira had a shot which was saved, before Bale’s shot from distance was well saved. The ex-Spurs player was valiant in trying to get his team back in it, but in all honesty, Wales struggled to create much.
Bale and Ronaldo may have been locked in battle on the pitch, but the two team’s star men embraced each other at the final whistle. Bale could not have predicted that he would meet his Real teammate in the semis of this competition.
Whether Wales ran out of steam towards the end of a great tournament, Portugal were too good or Ramsey was too badly missed, Wales just did not replicate their previous form at the Euros.
Ronaldo gets four points for a man of the match performance, his goal and his ‘assist’ for Nani, but loses one for his booking. Bale didn’t get a point for his performance on the night, but got one for the tournament as a whole, which was cancelled out by another booking.
Adidas
Bale 0
Nike
Ronaldo +3
Overall score
Adidas 24-13 Nike
Tomorrow’s Euro 2016 match
France v Germany
Players involved
Adidas: Neuer, Howedes, Ozil, Muller and Pogba.
Nike: Gotze, Evra, Koscielny and payet.
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