PORTO • An unstoppable force will meet an immovable object when Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal clash with Virgil van Dijk's Netherlands for the inaugural Nations League title today.
While there is a rare international trophy at stake, just as fascinating will be the head-to-head battle between two of the finest players in the world - even if this is being played down on the Dutch side.
"We're not just playing against Cristiano Ronaldo," defender van Dijk said after Thursday's 3-1 extra-time semi-final win over England.
"We're playing against an amazing Portugal."
His coach Ronald Koeman agreed and said possession would be the best form of defence against Ronaldo at Porto's Dragao Stadium.
He said: "We know that, sometimes, it's impossible to defend well against Cristiano Ronaldo.
"The best thing we can do is to keep the ball because when we have the ball, he can do nothing in attack."
Van Dijk, who won the Champions League with Liverpool on June 1, was his usual impressive solid self against England, aware of where he needed to be before anyone else. He would arrive, unhurried, and the likes of Marcus Rashford, Raheem Sterling, Jadon Sancho and Harry Kane were duly dispossessed.
Statisticians Opta said no player has dribbled past van Dijk in his last 64 club games before the Nations League. Strong and quick, good in the air and relaxed on the ball, he is the complete defender.
"He deserves the Ballon d'Or," Koeman added.
Van Dijk himself played this down, citing Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi as favourite.
But it is not Messi but his great attacking rival, Ronaldo, that van Dijk will meet today.
Should Portugal retain their 4-4-2 formation from their 3-1 win over Switzerland, there is the mouthwatering prospect of the two matching up for 90 minutes.
Ronaldo, now 34, may not be quite as dominant as before but a magnificent hat-trick, his 53rd, against Switzerland took his side through to the final.
"A football genius" was coach Fernando Santos' view of his talisman while "little Messi" Bernardo Silva said: "We're used to this kind of thing, he's been doing it for ages. It isn't a surprise to anyone now."
The Portuguese media went to town with his return following a post-World Cup break, with the Correio da Manha newspaper declaring "The Return of the King" on its front page.
Captaining Portugal to a trophy at home would be another high point in Ronaldo's incredible career and would vanquish any lingering scars from the Euro 2004 final loss to Greece in Lisbon.
"It's the preparation, my work ethic. I still feel good despite being 34," Ronaldo told uefa.com. "The most important thing is your head, to feel motivated and happy, and to follow my path as a player, because I think I still have a lot to give."
DPA, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Berlin: Bayern Munich forward Sandro Wagner is leaving the German champions with immediate effect and will join China's Tianjin Teda, the Bundesliga club said on Wednesday. The 31-year-old former Germany international, who is a Bayern Munich youth academy product, had rejoined the Munich club a year ago after spells as Werder Bremen, Hertha
Tianjin Teda - worldfootball.net
Liverpool's Croatian defender Dejan Lovren (L), Liverpool's Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah (C) and Liverpool's English forward Daniel Sturridge celebrate after winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid on June 1, 2019.
LONDON - Premier League leaders Manchester City recovered from two goals down to beat Championship side Swansea City 3-2 at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday to progress to the FA Cup semi-finals.
Man City come from two goals down to reach FA Cup last four
Mar 09, 2019 · Mauricio Pochettino was damning in his assessment of his Tottenham players after they threw away a first-half lead to lose 2-1 to Southampton, accusing them of "complacency" and "arrogance
Spurs snap Chelsea curse, cement top-four spot - global.espn.com
global.espn.com/football/blog/the-match/60/post/3435724/tottenham-first-win-at-chelsea-since-1990-to-move-decisively-clear-in-top-four-race
Eden Hazard was anonymous once again and the lack of drive and purpose within the team after the half-time interval was embarrassingly obvious. This was a huge game for Chelsea, one that would have put them within two points of the top four had they won. But only one team had the hunger for the win after the break on Sunday and that was Spurs.
Arsenal and Mesut Ozil lack mental strength to compete for
Copa del Rey: Ramos double puts Real Madrid within sight of
Chelsea boost top-four hopes, Cardiff relegated and Man City
Football: Son's South Korea survive Bahrain scare to reach Asian Cup quarters Son Heung-Min (left) and Ji Dong-Won of South Korea celebrate the 2-1 goal. PHOTO: EPA-EFE
Son's Korea survive Bahrain scare to reach Asian quarters
worldsoccertalk.com/2019/01/22/sons-korea-survive-bahrain-scare-to-reach-asian-quarters/
Son's Korea survive Bahrain scare to reach Asian quarters AFP January 22, 2019 AFP No Comments Dubai (AFP) - Son Heung-min's South Korea needed an extra-time winner to beat world ranked 113th Bahrain 2-1 as they stumbled into the Asian Cup quarter-finals in unconvincing fashion on Tuesday.
Son's Korea survive Bahrain scare to reach Asian quarters
Former FAS General Secretary, Winston Lee withdraws candidacy for AFC exco seat Winston Lee informed the FAS of his decision to withdraw his candidacy for the AFC Executive Committee
S.League to be rebranded as Singapore Premier League!
Defensive Back Covering Tips. The wide receiver and defensive back matchup is one of the most high speed, competitive, and highly visible matchups in all of sports, save fighting and tennis. Meaning: if you lose, everyone watching the game is most likely going to see it. This should be a great motivator for you to win. Every time.
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Pochettino's side looked like they would hold on for a point as the match entered stoppage-time, but Bournemouth defender Nathan Ake ended third-placed Tottenham's stubborn resistence to delay their attempt to guarantee a place in the top four.
Ake strikes late to sink nine-man Spurs | Football News and
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