Euro 2012 Day 16: Ronaldo can be relied upon to shine

Ed Hawkins
27 June 2012

Nani could also benefit from Ronaldo's brilliance

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Ed Hawkins, the SJA Betting Writer of the Year, has a profit of £129.80, from £10 level stakes in the tournament. Read his views on the first semi-final

"Ronaldo did not score but he caused general mayhem"

Ronaldo to score at 2.962/1

To score
All eyes on Ronaldo then. And that is just the way he likes it. When the expectation rises, Ronaldo, usually, rises to the occasion. It is just the way punters like it, too. Consider the difference between Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney, England's main man. Rooney couldn't even be bothered to turn up fit.

The Portuguese is 2.962/1 for a goal in this semi-final. It is a tantalising price because Spain, world champions and defenders of their European crown, tend to be a bit useful. Against the Czech Republic in the quarter-final, Ronaldo was 2.1211/10 to score. It is an understandable drift.

Still, Ronaldo was so spectacular in that game that it is difficult not to see him being equally dangerous against Spain. Ronaldo will run at the Spanish. No player has done that for years. Well, not since Ronaldo did exactly that in a 4-0 victory in November 2010.

That was a match which lives long in the memory, largely thanks to the success Spain continue to have. Ronaldo did not score but he caused general mayhem and almost notched a brilliant goal with a jinking run into the box. Spain, who were not understrength in that friendly, looked petrified. Three times Ronaldo has played against them and he is yet to score. Can Spain be as lucky again?

Helder Postiga and Hugo Almeida did net in that 4-0 win. Unfortunately Postiga is injured but Almeida could get game time. He looked a bit of a lump against the Czechs and the 7.4013/2 about him scoring does not appeal.

Fernando Torres could lead the line for Spain after they looked a little toothless against France. Torres, with two goals in the tournament, is 4.003/1.

Andres Iniesta has been a favourite of this column throughout but it is time to leave him alone and let him get on with it. The theory goes that with 11 attempts on target and no goals it is only a matter of time before he breaks his duck. But against France Iniesta did not break into the box as much as one would like for a 5.309/2 chance.

Xabi Alonso is 7.6013/2 following his brace against the French. If we could guarantee that Portugal had a player as work-shy and unreliable as Florent Malouda - who could not be bothered to track Alonso's run for the first goal - then we would steam in, but, alas, we can't.

First goalscorer
Ronaldo did us proud in this market against the Czechs with the first goal. But lighting the blue touch paper here is altogether tougher. He is 7.206/1. We should not forget that Ronaldo is adept at creating chances as well as taking them and if Nani has his finishing boots on, there will be a few who will take the 22.0021/1. Torres is 7.6013/2, Iniesta 11.0010/1 and David Silva, who does look more of a threat that his tricky team-mate, is 10.5019/2.