
Ronaldo becomes World Cup’s oldest hat-trick hero
Cristiano Ronaldo became the oldest hat-trick scorer in World Cup history with a stunning individual performance against Spain.
Cristiano Ronaldo became the oldest hat-trick scorer in World Cup history with a stunning individual performance against Spain.
Real Madrid derailed Spain’s World Cup preparations when they poached Julen Lopetegui just two days before the tournament, leading to the coach’s sacking, so it was with a certain inevitability that their biggest star put the buffers on what would have been a morale-boosting win against Portugal.
Hat-trick hero Cristiano Ronaldo credited his team-mates after he led Portugal to a 3-3 Group B draw with Spain, although he acknowledged scoring a treble at the World Cup was a “personal best”.
Spain goalkeeper David de Gea was in defiant mood after his blunder in Friday’s thrilling 3-3 draw with Portugal, stating: ‘I haven’t killed anyone’.
Didier Deschamps is happy to throw France’s rising stars in at the deep end as they prepare to begin their World Cup campaign on Saturday.
Heimir Hallgrimsson will ask his whole team to stop Lionel Messi on Saturday rather than handing the task to one man.
Peru must be wary of Denmark star Christian Eriksen in their Group C opener but have the players to match the Tottenham star, according to head coach Ricardo Gareca.
Joshua Kimmich believes Germany’s triumph at the Confederations Cup stands them in good stead to defend their World Cup title.
Marcel Desailly picked out Antoine Griezmann as ‘the key player’ in France’s World Cup squad, drawing parallels with his former team-mate Zinedine Zidane.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s stunning hat-trick earned Portugal a dramatic 3-3 draw in their 2018 Fifa World Cup Group B opener against Iberian neighbours Spain on Friday evening.