Portugal vs Morocco: Can Portugal cope without Cristiano Ronaldo’s goals and farewell to best side heading out early

Portugal 1-0 Morocco: Five things we learned from the Group B encounter

Portugal put one step in the World Cup last-16 with a 1-0 victory over Morocco, with Cristiano Ronaldo again proving the European champions’ saviour as his early goal settled the encounter in Moscow.

Five days after he saved their bacon in the 3-3 draw with rivals Spain, Ronaldo was at it again as he scored a diving header inside just four minutes, connecting with Joao Moutinho’s dangerous cross from a quickly-taken corner.

Portugal failed to build on the early goal and allowed Morocco a way back in, but the attacking-minded African side were unable to put their numerous chances to good use.

A combination of impressive saves from Rui Patricio and wastefulness from Khalid Boutaib and Hakim Ziyech let a below-par Portugal off the hook, and all but sealed their early exit from the competition following the 1-0 defeat by Iran.

Here’s five things we learned from the Group B encounter

Enjoy Ronaldo at the World Cup – it could well be his last

The sight of Ronaldo at the World Cup is a glorious one - enjoy it while it lasts (Getty)

Like him or loathe him, Cristiano Ronaldoi continues to prove why he is one of two box office players in the world. Whether it be Champions League finals, major tournaments or El Clasicos, he knows how to get himself in the headlines and when every opposition team knows they have to stop him to have a chance, that takes some doing.

But at 33 years old, this is very likely to be Ronaldo’s final World Cup. Appearing at Qatar 2022 cannot be ruled out given his supreme fitness levels but will an aging Ronaldo still be the same as the one who is taking Russia 2018 by storm? It’s unlikely.

That’s why no matter how you view Ronaldo or whether he plays for your favourite team or not, you should just sit back and enjoy what is an incredible player gracing the game. He won’t be around for much longer.

Morocco the best team heading for an early exit

Morocco are unlucky to have lost both their matches (REUTERS)

How Morocco managed to lose to Iran in their first match remains a mystery, having dominated the Middle Eastern side, but they may well be sitting in the Luzhniki Stadium changing rooms wondering exactly the same this time around.

Herve Renard’s side responded brilliantly to Ronaldo’s early goal, taking the attack to the reigning European champions and trying to find a way back into the match. Pepe [35] and Jose Fonte [34] looked their age and that allowed Boutaib and Ziyech to assert themselves in attack, causing plenty of issues for the Portuguese defence.

With two-thirds of the game gone, Morocco had shaded possession, had twice the number of shot s on goal and yet somehow had nothing to show for it. The African nation is was not expected to be among those threatening for the quarter-finals, but to not see them in the last-16 at all will be a shame.

Tentative goalkeepers should command their area

Mohamedi should have claimed Moutinho's cross for the goal (Getty) (AFP/Getty Images)

In an age where goalkeepers prefer to punch the ball clear rather than claim it as their own, it is no surprise to see set-piece headers going in inside the six-yard box. This should be commanded by goalkeepers, who it must not be forgotten hold a sizeable advantage over attackers in the air. So when Munir Mohand Mohamedi stayed rooted to his line as Joao Moutinho’s cross floated onto the head of Ronaldo, it had to be asked: ‘where was the keeper?’

This happened in Brazil’s 1-1 draw with Switzerland when Steven Zuber was able to head a corner past Alisson from just three yards out. There’s a growing trend of goalkeepers allowing themselves to be dominated by strong headers of the ball, but unless they instil a fear into them that they will be challenged in the air, it’s only going to be a one-way battle.

Will Portugal break if Ronaldo breaks?

Who will step up for Portugal to share the workload with Ronaldo? (Getty) (AFP/Getty Images)

With Ronaldo in the side, Portugal look like the European Championship-winning team that is capable of going all the way at Russia 2018. Without him, they don’t look very good at all. Ronaldo is the only Portuguese player to have scored at this World Cup so far, and on this viewing it’s hard to find where the support is going to come from.

Two years ago it was Eder who took it on himself to play Ronaldo’s supporting act and strike home the goal that sealed their maiden major tournament triumph, and it will take another unlikely candidate to share the workload with Ronaldo in order to protect their star player.

Ronaldo is built like a 100m sprinter or a thoroughbred racehorse – he is built to near perfection. The problem is that when that is the case, an athlete’s body tends to be in the red zone, where the risk of injury is far greater than a player who is not quite as peak physical fitness. If he’s needed for seven 90-minute match-winning performances, something’s going to give.

Top spot in Group B matters

Neither Portugal nor Spain will want to play Russia (Reuters)

Both Spain and Portugal will fancy their chances of going deep into this tournament – providing they both escape Group B – but neither will be too keen in finishing second and facing home favourites Russia. Following the 3-3 draw, everything depends on the final round of fixtures and, given they are likely to be locked on points, it’s goals that matter.

Russia may not be on the level of Spain or Portugal, but with the partisan crowd behind them, they are a force to be reckoned with.