Spain defender capdevila admits stopping portugal's cristiano is not a one-man job
Spain defender capdevila admits stopping portugal's cristiano is not a one-man job
The task of taming Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo will go to Spain defender Joan Capdevila and the Villarreal defender noted that he would have his hands full in today's World Cup game.
Asked how he would deal with the former Manchester United superstar, Capdevila replied: "That's complicated.
"When you play someone like him, you have to be nimble and very fast, very fast indeed. He will probably have a lot of freedom on the pitch and will move around, so we need to be very alert.
"The best way to stop him is to be assisted by my teamates. But we must also be very careful not just of him but others who come up from the back. We can't just focus on Cristiano. We must pay attention to his teammates as well."
Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque though chose to play down the threat of Ronaldo, insisting Portugal was not a one-man band.
The Iberian arch-rivals face each other for a place in the World Cup quarter-finals here today with Ronaldo desperate to see his team progress.
Del Bosque admitted the world's most expensive footballer would pose a problem, but he was keen to make clear the entire Portugal team was dangerous.
"I don't think we should become obsessed with him," he said of the Real Madrid forward.
"We must centre our attention on Portugal as a team. It has shown itself defensively and offensively to be a complete squad. They are in top shape."
The European champions have pulled themselves together after a 1-0 opening game loss to Switzerland, getting back on track with a 2-0 win against Honduras before beating 10-man Chile 2-1.
Del Bosque said his team were a humble and down to earth bunch, and there was no danger of them being complacent in their quest to win the country's first World Cup.
"I don't think a defeat is ever good, it was damaging to us," he said of the shock Switzerland result.
"But I don't think we had to learn lessons. This group is very humble and modest. We are not on cloud nine, we are in reality and fully realise each match is difficult.
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