Torres tepid, Ronaldo bows out with whimper

Cristiano Ronaldo’s wait to really make his mark at a major tournament will continue after Portugal were eliminated by neighbours Spain in the World Cup round of 16 after a 1-0 defeat on Tuesday.

The 94 million-euro man arrived in South Africa vowing to confirm his status as one of the game’s most enduring talents by stamping his authority on the tournament that has witnessed the coronation of football’s true greats.

Sporadically decisive in the group phase, when he scored just once in a 7-0 thashing of North Korea, Ronaldo was unable to exert any kind of influence as the 2006 semi-finalists succumbed to Spain’s fabled passing carousel.

He was not the only headline act to drift out of the match, though, with Spain striker Fernando Torres substituted in the 58th minute after a similarly poor showing.

“The substitution was made because Torres had done a lot of running and we needed fresh legs,” said Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque.

“Llorente had a very good final half-hour. It wasn’t a change of tactics. Llorente gave us vitality.”

Having played from the left against North Korea and as a lone central forward in the 0-0 draw with Portugal, Ronaldo began Tuesday’s game on the right.

His first involvement saw him horribly mis-control a kick-out from Portugal goalkeeper Eduardo and his first dribble down the flank ended with a foul by Carles Puyol that went unpunished, much to the Real Madrid star’s displeasure.

The skipper registered Portugal’s first shot on target with a typically ambitious long-range free-kick and his next dead-ball effort, from all of 37 metres, drew an unorthodox volleyball-style save from his club-mate Iker Casillas.

The number seven in the white shirt cut a subdued figure in the second half as Spain tightened their grip on the match and was left even more isolated when coach Carlos Queiroz withdrew strapping target man Hugo Almeida in the 58th minute.

The game finished without Ronaldo once getting the fans out of their seats and at 25, he may only get one more chance to bend a World Cup to his will.

“We marked Ronaldo well and neutralised his threat,” said Del Bosque of a player who refused to talk to reporters as he left the stadium.

Torres, who was a doubt prior to the tournament after being forced to undergo ankle surgery at the end of last season, is still to score in South Africa.

The Liverpool forward looked short of sharpness against Portugal, regularly running down blind alleys and failing to trouble opposition goalkeeper Eduardo.

He wore a disappointed look as he traipsed off the field midway through the second half but, unlike Ronaldo, he may yet have his say at this tournament.