When rock and genius collide

When rock and genius collide

PORTO • An unstoppable force will meet an immovable object when Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal clash with Virgil van Dijk's Netherlands for the inaugural Nations League title today.
While there is a rare international trophy at stake, just as fascinating will be the head-to-head battle between two of the finest players in the world - even if this is being played down on the Dutch side.
"We're not just playing against Cristiano Ronaldo," defender van Dijk said after Thursday's 3-1 extra-time semi-final win over England.
"We're playing against an amazing Portugal."
His coach Ronald Koeman agreed and said possession would be the best form of defence against Ronaldo at Porto's Dragao Stadium.
He said: "We know that, sometimes, it's impossible to defend well against Cristiano Ronaldo.
"The best thing we can do is to keep the ball because when we have the ball, he can do nothing in attack."
Van Dijk, who won the Champions League with Liverpool on June 1, was his usual impressive solid self against England, aware of where he needed to be before anyone else. He would arrive, unhurried, and the likes of Marcus Rashford, Raheem Sterling, Jadon Sancho and Harry Kane were duly dispossessed.
Statisticians Opta said no player has dribbled past van Dijk in his last 64 club games before the Nations League. Strong and quick, good in the air and relaxed on the ball, he is the complete defender.
"He deserves the Ballon d'Or," Koeman added.
Van Dijk himself played this down, citing Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi as favourite.
But it is not Messi but his great attacking rival, Ronaldo, that van Dijk will meet today.
Should Portugal retain their 4-4-2 formation from their 3-1 win over Switzerland, there is the mouthwatering prospect of the two matching up for 90 minutes.
Ronaldo, now 34, may not be quite as dominant as before but a magnificent hat-trick, his 53rd, against Switzerland took his side through to the final.
"A football genius" was coach Fernando Santos' view of his talisman while "little Messi" Bernardo Silva said: "We're used to this kind of thing, he's been doing it for ages. It isn't a surprise to anyone now."
The Portuguese media went to town with his return following a post-World Cup break, with the Correio da Manha newspaper declaring "The Return of the King" on its front page.
Captaining Portugal to a trophy at home would be another high point in Ronaldo's incredible career and would vanquish any lingering scars from the Euro 2004 final loss to Greece in Lisbon.
"It's the preparation, my work ethic. I still feel good despite being 34," Ronaldo told uefa.com. "The most important thing is your head, to feel motivated and happy, and to follow my path as a player, because I think I still have a lot to give."
DPA, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

---

Football. LONDON — Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba quickly deleted a controversial social media post of him smiling after manager Jose Mourinho was sacked by the club on Tuesday. Mourinho was dismissed on Tuesday after United's worst start in 28 years left them trailing Premier League leaders Liverpool by 19 points.

---

What is another word for not giving up? Need synonyms for not giving up?Here's a list of similar words from our thesaurus that you can use instead.
Paul Daugherty: Castellini not giving up on championship

---

CORRECTED-Soccer-Wenger hails Leeds' Bielsa for sportsmanship in Villa draw Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa's sportsmanlike decision to allow Aston Villa to score unopposed in Sunday's 1-1

---

Barcelona claimed their 13th Spanish Super Cup in style with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Sevilla on Wednesday night in the second leg at the Camp Nou, giving the Catalonians a whopping 5-0
Real Madrid stroll to an easy win as they put pressure on

---

Mauricio Pochettino plans to ruin old pal Pep Guardiola's Champions League bid Description: Aware of the harsh prism through which his European record is viewed, Guardiola went on the defensive when asked on Tuesday if he had extra motivation to win the competition again.
Pochettino plans to ruin old pal Guardiola's Champions League

---

Shellshocked Madrid knocked out of Champions League by brilliant Ajax The humiliating defeat completed a miserable week for Real, who have monopolised the competition since 2016 and are now
Shell-shocked Real Madrid knocked out of UEFA Champions

---

U.S. companies are more confident China will further open up to foreign investment in coming years, a top business lobby said on Tuesday, but it cautioned that an "astounding" three-quarters of
U.S. businesses optimistic on China growth, bemoan unfair

---

(FILE) Liverpool's Brazilian midfielder Roberto Firmino controls the ball throughout a soccer match in Liverpool, north-west England on March 6, 2018. PAUL ELLIS / AFP Jurgen Klopp revealed Roberto Firmino has suffered a torn groin muscle after Liverpool powered again to the highest of the Premier League with a 5-Zero rout of Huddersfield on …
9 Nigerians Arrested In US For $3.5m Fraud - Latest News

---

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admitted his side cannot meet the heights of Manchester City's football, but they may still win the title. We do it our way, says Klopp after another late
We do it our way, says Klopp after another late Liverpool win

---

Neymar hints at joining Real Madrid. AFP March 3, 2019, "He's going to become one of the best players in the history of football and I'm trying to help him as best as possible. We have the
Neymar hints at joining Real Madrid - Pulse Nigeria

---

The hat-trick is a big-time return on Juventus's investment in Ronaldo with qualification for the last eight reportedly worth 105mn euros ($118mn). Ronaldo said he also hopes to play a role

---

Gambling stakes -- Find potential answers to this crossword clue at crosswordnexus.com
high-stakes (adjective) definition and synonyms | Macmillan

---

watch afghanistan premier league live stream
watch soccer live stream hunter
watch live soccer streaming free android
watch premier league live streaming vf
watch coppa america live streaming zee5
watch champions league live streaming now free
where to watch premier league live streaming
watch soccer live streaming juventus
watch champions league live streaming cricfree
watch champions league simulcast live stream
watch champions league live streaming match
watch coppa america live streaming ronaldo7
watch coppa america live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming rcti
watch soccer live streaming qatar
watch coppa america live streaming xbox
watch soccer online free live streaming hd
watch soccer games live stream free
watch coppa america live streaming zip
watch champions league live streaming bt sport
soccer tv live football streaming portugal
watch soccer online free streaming live canada
watch champions league semi final draw live stream
cpl 2018 live streaming watch caribbean premier league t20 2018
watch barclays premier league online live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming ufc
watch arsenal southampton premier league live stream
watch coppa america live streaming video
watch live stream soccer games online free
watch coppa america live streaming english
watch champions league live streaming mobile
watch live english premier league online free streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live cricfree
watch coppa america live streaming hotstar
watch live soccer game barcelona vs real madrid
watch coppa america live streaming in india
watch soccer live - live football streaming
watch champions league live streaming xbox one
watch real madrid vs juventus live streaming of champions league
soccer tv live football streaming gratuit
watch coppa america live streaming india vs england
watch coppa america live streaming vivo
watch uefa champions league quarter final draw live streaming
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming free online
watch premier league stream reddit
watch soccer game live now
free live football streams watch live streaming tv premier league
watch coppa america live streaming dailymotion
watch uefa champions league final live streaming free online
watch coppa america live streaming crictime
watch everton vs tottenham live soccer streaming
watch coppa america live streaming sctv
watch premier league live streaming free
watch tamil nadu premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming bola
watch epl live streaming free no sign up
soccer tv live football streaming garuda select
watch champions league live streaming zee5
watch soccer live stream app
watch soccer online free streaming live youtube
watch premier league live streaming xfinity
watch champions league live streaming putlockers
watch premier league live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming live
watch soccer online free streaming live first row
watch english premier league live streaming online
watch coppa america live streaming total sportek
free watch soccer live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming tv
watch champions league live streaming bola
watch coppa america live streaming twitch
watch champions league live streaming now tv
watch the champions league live stream
watch coppa america live streaming hd free
apps to watch live streaming soccer
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch champions league live streaming kenya
watch soccer aid live stream online
watch soccer live streaming kenya vs ethiopia
watch premier league net live manchester united stream channel
watch champions league draw live stream total sportek
watch soccer am live stream
watch soccer online free live streaming livetv ru
watch soccer online free streaming live hd
watch coppa america live streaming uk
watch coppa america live streaming australia
watch soccer live streaming zimbabwe
watch coppa america live streaming cricfree
watch soccer live live football streaming cr7
how to watch uefa champions league live streaming
watch champions league live stream gratis
super soccer tv live streaming napoli vs juventus
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online
watch soccer online free streaming live reddit
watch coppa america live streaming putlockers
#golazo #romania #kopisusu #4Series #frasirap #zidane #thebeatles #nationsleague #oasisengland #kroenkeout #valcea #comics #firmino #panini #americanfootball #pagani #uefanationsleague #watchlive #sunderlandafc #meunier #livestreams #frasitrap #coffeebreak #conference #soccermemes #premierleague #lovefootball #calciatoribrutti #footballstreaming #championsleague #zinedinezidane #adidasslipon #24x7 #lfc #PartyTime #winner #goal #neymar #barcelona #knuckleball #salah #chocolate #Celtic #football #rugby #manchestercity #kickoff #gym #Barca #Liverpool #comico #battuteepiche #england #MSport #GarageCafeDxb #londoncity #realmadrid #ucl