Porto/Panjim: Many Goans stayed up almost through the night for Portugal’s decisive game against Italy’s conquerors in North Macedonia to qualify for their 6th straight world cup. For a land which is crazy about football and has deep sentimental attachments with Portugal and the beautiful game, its people, Goans will get to see the iconic Christiano Ronaldo in his last world cup appearance in Qatar.
With a Prime Minister of Goan origin, António Costa, ministers in the cabinet, and many Goans who contribute to the intellectual and cultural space, the bonds between the two places are strong. And football is the ribbon that ties this beautiful package.
Italy’s shock exit had North Macedonia dreaming of their first-ever appearance at a World Cup finals but Portugal and Fernandes proved a step too far in Porto.
Fernandes eased Portuguese nerves at the Estadio do Dragao by finishing off Cristiano Ronaldo’s pass in the first half and then made the win more comfortable in the second, latching onto an inch-perfect cross from the excellent Diogo Jota.
The victory means Portugal extend their run of qualifying for six out of six World Cups since the turn of the century while Ronaldo is on course for his fifth, aged 37.
The striker’s best previous result was reaching the semi-finals in 2006, when Portugal was beaten by Germany.
(The Daily Mail describing the atmosphere on the ground wrote beautifully “More than 48,000 packed into the stadium on the banks of the Douro, waving flags and wearing flashing headbands complete with tufts of green-and-red hair. There were golden balloons filled with helium, bobbing around as though at a children’s birthday party, spelling out CR7, and Ronaldo’s mother Dolores was in the house. Mexican waves lapped the bowl and despite all the warning about the threat of North Macedonia, the pre-match party mood enhanced because the Italians were not invited”).
Bruno Fernandes, the soft-spoken star and Ronaldo’s teammate in Manchester United, who is emerging from his shadows said “Everyone has ambition, Cristiano and I are no exception,’ said Fernandes. ‘Usually, he scores, and I assist but today it was the other way around.’
From the Prime Minister of Portugal, of Goan origin António Costa to football-loving Goans, football unites all. And in the times that we are in, what greater message can that be.
