Game on…
Portugal vs Spain was always going to deliver. It’s the first game of the group stage between two sides of genuine quality. Spain go into this tournament with high hopes of amending for 2014’s disastrous campaign, but the managerial crisis that saw Julen Lopetegui leave may have rocked the morale of their camp. Meanwhile, Portugal go into this World Cup having won the European Championships two years ago and while there are weaknesses in the team, they also have Cristiano Ronaldo.
The game got off to a flying start as Ronaldo was awarded a penalty in the opening minutes after being tripped by his Real Madrid teammate Nacho Fernandez, who stepped in for the injured Dani Carvajal.
There was clear contact, but some people don’t think the decision to give the penalty was justified, claiming that Ronaldo initiated contact and tumbled to the ground unnecessarily.
It wouldn’t be the first time Ronaldo went down easily, but it would be harsh to insinuate that this was complete simulation.
that is SUCH a dive. where is VAR?
— Muhammad Butt (@muhammadbutt) June 15, 2018
So far we've had our first own goal and first dive in the World Cup☺
— Iam_Ronaldó (@daSilvaRonaldo1) June 15, 2018
I thought VAR was being used at the #WorldCup? Hope it's used for #POR's next match. I don't think Ronaldo would dare try another dive again in the penalty box.
— Susan Seddon 🎃👻 (@SuzeTwelve) June 15, 2018
Great dive Ronaldo 👏👏
— Jamie Mcgown (@jamie_mcgown) June 15, 2018
VAR is available for the referees to call upon at this World Cup, but in this situation, referee Gianluca Rocchi saw no need to do so.
There were just as many people asserting that it was a definite penalty, though. If anything, the divided opinion just demonstrates what a difficult job referees have in deciding what constitutes a foul and what doesn’t/
This one was always going to be lively. Great start from Portugal – definite penalty and expertly dispatched. #WorldCup
— Elliott Jackson (@_ElliottJackson) June 15, 2018
Definite penalty #PORESP #WorldCup
— Steven Roberts (@steroberts_1985) June 15, 2018
https://twitter.com/aaronhenry5/status/1007686095755272195
It’s definitely a fair penalty. There was little contact, but there was definitely contact between them!!
— Vanessa Ndleve (@shongileVee) June 15, 2018
Nacho got caught in a bad spot, and that was definitely a penalty.
— Radu Marinescu (@radum27) June 15, 2018
