Messi rubs salt into Ronaldo rivalry

PETALING JAYA: The eternal rivalry between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi was given another twist on the climactic day of the World Cup group stage.

While the Portuguese star drew a blank, the Argentine came on as a late substitute and scored from a freekick. Portugal was lucky to draw with a controversial offside decision robbing Colombia of what would have been a deserved victory.

Elsewhere, England beat Panama 2-0 to top Group L and will meet DR Congo, a best third-place finisher, in the Round of 32.

Meanwhile, Algeria and Austria both scored in added time in a dramatic 3-3 draw that saw both advance to the knockout stages. Notable departees from the group stage are South Korea and Scotland.

Eight things we learnt

1 Ronaldo is not back after all

As Mark Twain didn’t say, rumours of Cristiano Ronaldo’s comeback are exaggerated. He might have scored two goals in the 5-0 hammering of a hapless Uzbekistan, but still huffed and puffed in doing little else.

In Miami, against a superior Colombian side, he ran out of puff, but somehow stayed on the field as the South Americans staged a storming finale to a cracking contest.

Portugal was fortunate to hang on, owing their draw to heroic goalkeeping from Diogo Costa and a marginal VAR decision. The much-vaunted Portuguese midfield didn’t function, with PSG’s Vitinha and Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes both disappointing.

It raises the question of whether Ronaldo’s presence is a burden to the side. Yet, he stayed on the field for every minute of the tournament.

With debate raging about whether CR7 should be left out and coach Roberto Martinez’s failure to get the best out of a talented squad, Portugal fans fear another World Cup could be slipping by them.

Martinez muffed his chance with Belgium’s Golden Generation and looks set for a repeat with Portugal while insisting on playing with 10 men.

2 Messi steals it and seals it

As if it wasn’t frustrating enough for Ronaldo to draw a blank, Lionel Messi has to come on as a late substitute for Argentina against Jordan and score.

It was the simplest of goals and should not have gone in – the Jordan keeper did not move a muscle as Messi aimed a low freekick just wide of the wall. He didn’t hit it that hard.

Perhaps the keeper was unsighted, perhaps he was just in awe of the great man. But he should have saved it. It wasn’t even right in the corner.

It had looked as if Messi might have the night off until Jordan pulled a goal back. But Argentine boss Lionel Scaloni wasn’t taking any chances and enter the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer.

As always, he did not disappoint and now has one more goal to increase his lead in the Golden Boot race.

3 Robbed by a toe, but at least it was quick

Colombia thought they’d won it. A last-ditch header by ex-Tottenham defender Davinson Sanchez finally beat Diogo Costa, but VAR decided otherwise – by a toe.

Had it affected their position in the group, it might have created more anger from a predominantly Colombian crowd in Miami.

Also helping to avoid controversy was that we didn’t have to wait too long. Ever since VAR was introduced with the promise that it would take five seconds, we’ve moaned about the time it takes. It often feels like five minutes and is sometimes even longer. It’s the waiting that kills.

In the World Cup, VAR has felt better. Not so busybody. And not so painfully slow. Interventions are about the same frequency (once every three games), but it’s the perception that counts – and this is where speed comes in.

This was one of the longest waits. Even if it was wrong, it doesn’t seem so bad.

Also, assistant referees now receive an electronic alert to show a clear offside, meaning they can raise their flags straight away. Are you watching, EPL?

4 Much more than a one-goal wonder

James Rodriguez won the Puskas Award for his incredible volley against Uruguay in the 2014 World Cup. Great things were predicted for the then-22-year-old Colombian. He won the Golden Boot and was selected for the Team of the Tournament.

However, a glittering career didn’t come at the voltage expected. Among his notable failures were at Real Madrid and Everton, where the physical game found him out.

That said, he’s retained his touch and artistry to land trophies and honours in Spain, Portugal, Germany and now the United States.

At 34, the midfield conductor of his national side was given a standing ovation when subbed against Portugal for being behind many of the moves that deserved more than a point but still grabbed top place in Group K.

5 England muddles through, but no big boots are quaking

Job done but nothing to get excited about. The Three Lions eventually defeated a physical Panama side to take their expected place in the Round of 32. But it took a while to break them down and again England lacked imagination on how to do so. And their fans must have been once again wondering whether it was worth the fortunes they’d paid to watch this stuff.

For a frustrating hour, we were looking at Ghana 2.0. But an opportunist volley from Jude Bellingham made the breakthrough and a trademark Harry Kane header soon followed. Kane became his country’s record scorer in the competition with 12, passing Gary Lineker. Panama was much improved from the side that England whacked 6-1 in the 2018 World Cup, when Kane bagged a hat-trick.

But you feel the likes of Spain, France and Argentina would not have taken so long to dispatch them in New York.

6 Tuchel’s snubbed trio would have been useful

Those left at home would have been useful. Thomas Tuchel’s controversial decision to leave out three of England’s brightest young stars could come back to haunt him.

Many fans were shocked when Carlton Palmer, Phil Foden and, to a lesser extent, Trent Alexander-Arnold didn’t make the cut. We can all be wise after the event, but what this trio has is exactly what England’s squad is conspicuously lacking – flair.

To be fair, their form wasn’t great, but they do possess that ability to produce something different, unexpected and which you can’t legislate for.

Frankly, it is hard to see England struggling so much to break down middle- and lower-tier defences with Palmer, in particular, in the side. And to pick Jarell Quansah in front of Alexander-Arnold is almost a final insult.

The Real Madrid man was outstanding for Liverpool during the Klopp era, often moving into midfield and supplying sublime passes. Quansah was his understudy who left for Bayer Leverkusen, while Alexander-Arnold went to Real Madrid. It almost beggars belief that Quansah is preferred for England.

7 Wissa’s double is redemption for Congo

Africa continues to leave a big impression this World Cup, with DR Congo (DRC) becoming another nation making history. Cape Verde has rightly stolen the headlines, but DRC deserves a special mention.

A come-from-behind 3-1 win over Uzbekistan was their first in the World Cup and earned them a Round of 32 against England. Except, of course, Iran, of all the 48 nations requiring a psychological boost, it’s hard to think beyond DRC.

Not only is the central African nation afflicted by a deadly new strain of the Ebola virus, it also has a shocking piece of history to erase. In 1974, when known as Zaire, they lost all three games without scoring to record a tally of 0-14. It was enough for the players to fear for their lives when they returned home. Thankfully, the worst didn’t happen, but the new generation is well aware of the story.

With two ex-Manchester United players, Axel Tuanzebe and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, in their ranks they overcame a shock early goal to prevail thanks to two more goals from Yoan Wissa.

8 Tearful retreat by Tartan Army

It was the waiting that did it. Clinging to the clifftop with bitten fingernails. Hoping against hope for a big Ghana win over Croatia. Or a decisive victory in the Austria-Algeria game.

Either way, the Scots didn’t care. But they had cared enough for 50,000 to travel – yes, even at these Infantino-inflated prices. So when the inevitable came and Ghana lost to Croatia, the gig was up.

Scotland’s head coach Steve Clarke resigned, letter already written. He gave it a good shot – leading his country into two Euro finals as well as the first World Cup since 1998.

Poignantly, he wished his successor good luck. He will need it. The fans deserve a better team but where are the talents of yesteryear? The rich seam that produced the Baxters, Laws, Dalglishes, Sounesses has dried up. Half the army had already gone home. Crying into their whisky glasses. At least it’s cheaper there.