I was being somewhat hyperbolic and I wasn't just referencing this thread. Guardiola was called into question with Barça back in the day because of the talent he had at his disposal. Where is the same narrative about Zidane?
I know you weren't just referencing this thread, but I still dispute the premise you're setting up. I think Zidane totally (and pretty justifiably, too) gets called into question. Zidane's talent, I'll agree with Curt, is ego management. He's not a tactical genius by any stretch of the imagination, but I don't think anyone here pretends that he is.
Once again, I was being somewhat hyperbolic. And tell me, who has called Zidane into question like Guardiola was when he was winning? Or are you saying Guardiola was never called into question on this forum because of the talent at his disposal? Search function is your friend.
I know you weren't just referencing this thread, but I still dispute the premise you're setting up. I think Zidane totally (and pretty justifiably, too) gets called into question. Zidane's talent, I'll agree with Curt, is ego management. He's not a tactical genius by any stretch of the imagination, but I don't think anyone here pretends that he is.
I wasn't around this forum during the peak Guardiola-Barca years, so on that I won't comment. But would you tell me who has been going on about the tactical prowess of dear Zizou? Search function can be your ally as well, and I'd argue it's more reasonable to ask it of you as you raised the premise in the first place.
Do you seriously need me to define hyperbolic?
http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showpost.php?p=122090691&postcount=305
http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showpost.php?p=132616717&postcount=477
http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showpost.php?p=131799021&postcount=154
There are also posts in this thread and the La Liga thread about rotations and such. If you watched Madrid the past year and a half, especially in the league, and consider that along with the Madrid squad relative to some of the narrative out there you'll easily see what I'm saying. And for the record this is coming from someone who thought it was smart to appoint Zidane when they did and who rates Zidane as a manager higher than probalby 98% of this forum does including yourself.
I'm perfectly comfortable with the definition of hyperbole, thanks, there was an implication in your post that, even if exaggerated, Zidane gets a lot of credit for his tactics here (even if not the extent of calling him a "mastermind"). I wasn't aware we were citing PowerMan and Asiantuija (spelling is definitely wrong, I'm on my phone) as sources I too thought Zidane was a smart move at the time, and I still (even more so now) think he's the right man for the club, I just don't think he gets an undue amount of credit on this form, although the "that's the Zidane effect" (which I will note seems tongue-in-cheek, might not be though) is a solid point to the contrary.
Wow...the CR7 hate is strong.
Wow... the reading comprehension is strong with this one.
I mean:
A - he did win with Portugal, regardless of his injury in the final. Are people blaming Messi for not winning the WC and two Copas? (because if they are, they shouldn't... while they maybe should've done better vs respectable Chile teams in the two Copas, Germany was simply the better team with better players in the WC final)
B - like you said yourself, it was the flukiest team to win since 2002; because, you know, other than Ronaldo, they didn't have a lot of great players. Andre Gomes, Danilo, ancient Nani and Quaresma, etc... Is not really a great team.
So, what I'm trying to say, aside from this quite average Portugal team actually winning the EURO, what else would you like them to do?
You're imply that Ronaldo is at fault for not winning more major stuff at international level while saying at the same time the team was mediocre and a fluke... You can't have it both ways, tbh.
Cruyff didn't win it, Platini didn't, Maldini didn't, Baresi didn't, Weah didn't, Van Basten didn't, etc.
Football history is filled with players not winning the WC, whether it's because they were from smaller football nations of some other reasons (like Di Stefano).
Or simply that they ran into better teams who peaked at the right time (like Brasil in 82 running into Italy, for example).
Ronaldo makes more impact to his team than Messi and this is my option. He has more abilities to score against good defenders. Messi is usually on shadows against top teams. Of course Messi can pass because Barcelona plays with most boring tactic ever seen on football field. Ronaldo would also be huge playmaker with same tactic.
Ronaldo is best player we ever seen on the football field. Beats legends like Maradona, Pele and Platini.
Possibly best performance ever in athere was still major tournament. 9 goals in 5 games. Including the winning goal in the final.
Not the toughest competition when you're already on the best team, with the best players. Most expensive team in football history.
Back when Platini, Cruyff or others played, plenty of teams could win. Now it's down to what... 3 (in the CL)?
It's also one of the reasons why Ronaldo and Messi shine much less with their NT. Not the same system, not the same teammates.
This is exactly why Platini's 84 EC performance is MUCH MUCH more impressive than this streak by Ronaldo (or any streak Messi put up for that matter).