Are Portugal good enough Lollipop?

Portugal are through, despite a ferocious fight back from Sweden in the second half it was a Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick that sealed a 3-2 victory for the away team. But can they go all the way in Brazil Lollipop?

Two quickfire goals in just two minutes from Ronaldo secured Portugal’s place in next years 2014 FIFA World Cup.

At the age of 32 Sweden superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic may not have another opportunity to play in a World Cup finals. But 28-year-old Ronaldo may still have a couple to come.

Ronaldo came out on top against rival superstar Zlaten Ibrahimović tonight who could muster only two goals to keep his side in the game but his single-handed performance could fall against the best in Brazil.

The closest Portugal have come in the competition was  in 2006 under former Brazilian coach Luiz Felipe Scolari when they reached the semi-finals in Germany. They lost to France 1- 0 by a Zinedine Zidane penalty.

Throughout the years Portugal have produced quality players such as Pedro Pauleta and Luis Figo so Ronaldo is not the side’s first national superstar – yet they have never made it to a World Cup final.

When they step up against the top seven seeded teams like Spain, Germany or Argentina in Brazil Ronaldo’s presence could be overshadowed by Lionel Messi, Thomas Müller or David Villa.

Although Ronaldo’s hat-trick showed the impact he has in crucial ties Portugal as a team are just not up there with the best in the world.

Shoddy defending caused Portugal to concede two goals in four minutes tonight. Despite their defiant performance they can be quickly dismantled.

Like other national football sides that have made it to Brazil, Portugal have a lot to work on before next summer.

The Real Madrid striker made it look so easy tonight as he chipped the ball over Swedish goalkeeper Isaksson to score his third of the game. Ronaldo has now drawn level with Pauleta on 47 goals for Portugal.

By the end of the 2014 FIFA World Cup there will be even more goals from the superstar. But will they all amount to Portugal reaching the final in Brazil?

Not yet Lollipop. Not yet.

 

Manchester crowd motivate Trott

Britain’s double Olympic champion has done it again Lollipop in our home town. Laura Trott won her second gold medal of the Manchester UCI Track Cycling World Cup with a gritty performance in the omnium on the final day on the track.

In the six event discipline after finishing second in the individual pursuit followed by victories in the scratch race and 500m time trial the 21-year-old Trott finished five points clear of Canada’s Gillian Carleton.

Trott said: “”I’m normally terrible at [the scratch] but I went into it six points down, I thought this is my chance and I’d take it.”

The cyclist also won gold at London 2012 in the omnium making her a double Champion in her first Olympics.

Her gripping performance meant Trott added the title to the gold earned in Friday’s team pursuit world record ride.

With the next round at Mexico in December and the third in January at a location yet to be confirmed Trott has time to improve even more on the track. So by Rio 2016 we could be expecting even more from the sprinter.

After finishing the omnium with a score of 19 Trott received a standing ovation from the Manchester crowd and added: “If it wasn’t for the crowd, I don’t think I would have won today.”

However the reception will be very different in Mexico later this year and at Rio 2016 the pressure will increase for the Essex champ.

Unlike today and at London 2012 the home crowd won’t be there to drive her on so she will have to ride even harder.

Rio is still three years away so Lollipop can hardly use this as a bench mark to predict what Britain’s female cyclists could achieve.

But with Great Britain’s women twice breaking the world record as they won the new-look team pursuit the team look unstoppable.

Joanna Rowsell also won her second Track Cycling World Cup gold medal in two days as she beat Australian Rebecca Wiasak in the individual pursuit this weekend.

Plus the women’s new endurance coach Chris Newton, is planning to work on Trott’s past weaknesses, the points and scratch races.

The atmosphere at the Manchester velodrome was euphoric and it clearly motivated the team so whether the performances will continue for the women’s side is debatable. If only they could ride in Manchester every day.

The packed venue also shows just how much people are behind cycling despite previous doping scandals. If the medals keep coming we could see the sport on our TV screens a lot more this year and as we look forward to Rio.