Euro 2016 – Three Key Talking Points – Poland vs Portugal

Marseille’s Stade Velodrome plays host to surprise contender Poland and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal as they face-off for a spot in the semi-finals.

International glory beckons for Ronaldo

It has been a debate that has raged for years, who is the best player in the world, Messi or Ronaldo? At club level, Messi is the clear victor thanks to his all-conquering years with Barcelona, but at international level neither player has lifted silverware.

Messi has come closest, most recently falling at the last hurdle in the Copa America final to Chile, but if the Barcelona star decides to end his time with Argentina, his résumé will forever miss an international success.

Ronaldo may not have played at his best thus far in Euro 2016, but it offers him the chance to do what his great rival could not, lead his country to international silverware. The 31-year-old will not let this opportunity slip without a fight.

Lewandowski drought hurting Poland

There is no doubting that Robert Lewandowski is one of the most dangerous strikers in world football – 42 goals last season for Bayern Munich shows just how lethal the 27-year-old can be.

However, Lewandowski’s name has been surprisingly absent from the scoresheet in France. With the Polish side lacking a key playmaker in midfield, Lewandowski has been forced to drop in behind fellow striker Arkadiusz Milik. This has certainly limited the number of chances offered to the Bayern Munich man, but a player of his quality must take anything that comes his way if Poland are to continue their surprise run into the knockout stages.

A repeat of Croatia-Portugal on the cards?

The round-of-sixteen clash was considered one of the dullest of the tournament until Ricardo Quaresma’s extra-time winner. Both sides cancelled out the attacking strength of their opposition, resulting in zero shots on target during the first 90 minutes. However, there is a chance of a similar story playing out in Marseille.

Poland have struggled to find the net so far, only scoring three times in four matches. Things have gone slightly better for Portugal, scoring five goals in their four outings, but they have found themselves struggling to convert a multitude of chances. Hopefully the strikers find their form to produce a match worth of the quarter-finals of a major international tournament.

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