Cristiano Ronaldo heads into his sixth and final World Cup with that elusive trophy being the only one missing from his cabinet. Could he steep his name further into football history or will Messi always have the upper hand in the race to be crowned the greatest of all time. However, the debate about his role in the team has never been questioned more.
Mondorf captain and former Luxembourg international Dwayn Holter believes he can still have a positive impact. "I definitely think Ronaldo has a positive effect on the Portuguese team. He's not the same player he was a few years ago, of course, but his experience, mentality and leadership are still very valuable to the squad. He sets high standards and provides guidance to the younger players. He remains an important figure for Portugal, both on and off the pitch."
As groups at the World Cup go, group K is an interesting one; none of the teams in the group have ever played against each other, with Uzbekistan appearing at their first ever World Cup. The level of unpredictability could make it one of the most exciting groups of the tournament. Holter agrees:
"It's an interesting group, with teams that play in different styles. Portugal are the favourites, but Colombia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are full of talent, too. Uzbekistan shouldn't be underestimated either. It could be closer than many people think. In a World Cup tournament, no match is easy. If a team isn't at its best from the get-go, they can quickly run into trouble."
Portugal’s strengths are clear for everybody to see, with world class players available in almost all positions, but it's the unpredictability of the other teams that will cause the excitement. Holter believes it is teams' mentality that will be the difference:
"Mentality tends to make the difference. While quality is important, it is often the teams that stick together and remain strong, even in difficult moments, that win short tournaments."
The question now is whether Portugal has the mentality to succeed. Roberto Martínez must decide how to get the best out of the five-time Ballon d'Or winner, Cristiano Ronaldo. Now aged 40, Ronaldo is not the player he once was, yet the pressure on him to lead the team remains high. The Portuguese team is bolstered by four two-time Champions League winners: Joao Neves, Vitinha, Nuno Mendes and Gonçalo Ramos. Their experience of playing in important matches could be crucial to the team's success. Not to mention the amount of talent they have at their disposal in every position.
The DR Congo and Uzbekistan are probably the two least-known teams in this tournament. The former dramatically secured their place by beating Jamaica 1–0 in extra time. Whereas, Uzbekistan progressed as group runners-up, making history as the first Central Asian country to qualify for a World Cup.
If there's one player who knows a thing or two about the World Cup, it's Fabio Cannavaro. The 2006 World Cup winner has been appointed coach of Uzbekistan, a surprise move, but his knowledge of the tournament could help the White Wolves progress as underdogs. While most of the players will be unfamiliar to European spectators, Abdukodir Khusanov stands out as the poster boy of the squad; currently under contract with Manchester City. He played a key role in their double cup win, impressing with his tremendous pace as well as his astute positional awareness.
DR Congo has a few household names of their own, particularly among Premier League viewers. Yoane Wissa of Newcastle United, Aaron Wan-Bissaka of West Ham, and Axel Tuanzebe of Burnley all have experience playing at the highest level. DR Congo have every reason to believe they can advance, given the proven quality throughout their squad.
Colombia is expected to take the other automatic qualifying spot. They will be looking to emulate or improve on their performance in 2014, where they reached the quarter-final. Their star player is Luis Díaz, who has enjoyed an excellent season at Bayern Munich. They also have defensive strength in the form of Davinson Sánchez of Galatasaray and Juan Cuadrado of Juventus. Despite his age, James Rodríguez has been included in the World Cup squad and will have the opportunity to prove his doubters wrong. Colombia finished above Uruguay and Brazil in the qualifiers, beating Argentina as they secured third place in the South American qualifiers.
