Wales vs. Portugal Is Good Vs. Evil, Gareth Bale vs. Cristiano Ronaldo
By Ty Duffy
Wales faces Portugal in the Euro 2016 semifinals. In narrative land, it’s a classic, good vs. evil affair. It’s the tournament darlings (with Iceland out) against the dour, cynical draw artists. It’s Gareth Bale against inveterate heel Cristiano Ronaldo, a collision of international superstars and club rivals (even if Gareth Bale says it isn’t).
Bale has been shunted into the Robin role since joining Real Madrid. His world record transfer fee was masked to keep Ronaldo happy. He has been the one most often played out of position. Bale, one of the world’s best free kick artists, is often passed over for Ronaldo, who thinks he is one.
Ronaldo has been the better player since Bale joined the club and, without question, the healthier one. Through February, Bale had cost nearly $1 million per appearance. While Bale has had his moments – putting Real Madrid ahead in extra time of the 2014 Champions League Final – he has been viewed as a modest to moderate disappointment.
Bale, however, has been on an uptick. He had a strong close to the past season, his best in a Real Madrid shirt, under Zinedine Zidane, scoring 19 goals in his 23 league appearances. Ronaldo, while still producing, has lost a step.
At Euro 2016, Bale has been the consummate leader, scoring three times and rousing his team to an unprecedented semifinal run. Ronaldo, offside and off-target much of the tournament, has not turned it on full bore yet, though this goal against Hungary was solid.
Reaching the final with Wales (Wales!) would secure for Bale one of the all-time great international tournament runs. It would also highlight Cristiano Ronaldo’s failure to achieve that at Portugal, with a better supporting cast. That’s notable.
Bale has a long, long way to go to match Cristiano Ronaldo’s individual achievements. Ronaldo has won three Ballon d’Or awards and finished second in the voting five times. Bale, 26, has never finished top three. We suspect Ronaldo will continue to hoover up the bulk of the free kick opportunities. But, winning this head to head contest would be good for Gareth Bale, not just his country.
More crucial to the match outcome Wednesday, however, may be who is not present. Portugal can weather the absence of enforcer William Carvalho in midfield due to suspension. A thin Wales squad has no replacement for in-form Arsenal attacking midfielder Aaron Ramsey.
Bale can be lethal in dangerous positions. Wales may have a harder time getting him the ball there.