Gauging the reaction to Portugal’s progression to this summer’s World Cup finals in Brazil, you would be forgiven for thinking they are a one-man team.
The Iberian nation’s qualification play-off against Sweden last November was billed as a contest between two of the game’s global superstars, Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic – who just happen to also captain their countries.
All six goals in the two-legged tie were scored by the iconic duo but it was Ronaldo who came out on top as a second-half hattrick in Solna secured a 4-2 aggregate win and booked his team’s passage to Brazil.
If there was ever any doubt, the Real Madrid forward’s performance at the Friends Arena confirmed not only his individual brilliance but his importance to Paulo Bento’s national team.
That Portugal’s chances of success in South America rely heavily on a fit and in-form Ronaldo stepping off the plane is not in doubt. However, his Madrid and international teammate Pepe believes the rest of the squad need to give their star forward the platform on which to perform.
“What fans can expect in the World Cup is that Cristiano is going to give his maximum,” the defender says. “But him on his own doesn’t do anything. So we have a group that is aware that Cristiano is important and we are going to try and support him as much as possible so that he is at the standard we are used to seeing him during his career.
“He has done many things for the Portuguese team and also for our club.”
Indeed he has. In all, Ronaldo has scored 49 goals in 110 caps since making his Portugal debut as an 18-year-old in 2003. The former Manchester United man will also line up alongside Pepe in the Champions League final against Atletico Madrid later this month meaning the pair could yet head to Brazil as treble winners.
“I would define him as a very special player, with a winning mentality and a very good and positive mentality,” the 31-year-old adds of a player he has worked with for the past five years in Spain. “Also as a human being he is very close to his friends and is very aware of the people that need his help.
“I am lucky because I can be his friend, and be in the same dressing room as him.”
Ronaldo recently told a Brazilian television station that he hoped the nation’s football fans would get behind his side as they look to navigate a tricky Group G, that sees them facing Germany, Ghana and the USA.
He will also need a little help from a Brazilian closer to home. Born in Maceio on Brazil’s north-eastern coast, Pepe moved to the island of Madeira at the age of 18 to take up an offer from Portuguese Primeira Liga club Maritimo.
His performances there led to a move to the mainland with Porto in 2004, and within three years he was a €30 million (Dh153.5m) acquisition at the Bernebau.
In the same year of that switch, Pepe made his international debut for his adopted country – but not before he had turned down an 11th hour offer from then Brazil coach Dunga to play for the nation of his birth.
Asked about his emotions when pulling on the famous red jersey of Portugal, the defender says: “It is difficult to explain because it’s a feeling that I cannot find the words to explain – it’s something I feel strongly in my heart.
“What I feel is gratitude to the people, gratitude to the country that received me and I want to give back all the love that the people of Portugal have given me from the day I arrived.
“When I put this shirt on I know the responsibility it has and the importance it has for the people. So I try in every game I play with the national team to give the best of myself, help my team-mates and take the name of Portugal as far as I can.”
Having failed to qualify for a World Cup in the 1990s, Portugal have endured mixed results in the three tournaments since. A disastrous group stage exit in 2002 was followed by a semi-final appearance four years later before their involvement in 2010 was ended in the second round by eventual champions Spain.
Given their group and the possibility of Belgium lurking in the next round, Pepe is perhaps right to be cautious about their chances this time.
“The expectation with Portugal is to be able to get through the first stage of the competition and then continue game by game to get as far as possible,” he says.
Expectations in a football-mad country like Portugal are likely to be higher but Pepe insists his team-mates will be able to cope with those demands.
“We feel the pressure of the fans because when you are playing for a country it is a big responsibility for a player,” he adds. “In this case in Portugal people like football a lot. They live for football and we are conscious of this and we feel the responsibility of trying to give happiness to the Portuguese people and that is what we are trying to do.”
Pepe has a bigger responsibility than most as he attempts to provide the stability at the back that can allow Ronaldo to unlock defences in attack.
Luckily for Portugal, it is one he appears completely at ease with. Pepe is a Nike athlete and his national team, Portugal, will wear a Nike kit in this summer’s World Cup finals in Brazil.
His team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo will wear the Nike Mercurial Superfly boot. Both the Portugal team kit and the Mercurial boot are available at Nike stores throughout the UAE.
PORTUGAL'S TOURNAMENT FORM
Euro 2012 – Poland & Ukraine
After losing their opener to Germany, they beat Denmark and Holland to emerge from the group. A solitary goal from Ronaldo saw off the Czechs in the last 16 before a penalties defeat to Spain in the semi-finals ended their challenge.
2010 World Cup – South Africa
A draw with Ivory Coast was followed by a 7-0 demolition of North Korea, while a 0-0 draw with Brazil got them out of the group. David Villa’s goal proved decisive in a last-16 loss to Spain.
Euro 2008 – Austria & Switzerland
Wins over the Czechs and Turkey rendered a final group game loss to Switzerland irrelevant, but they were then overpowered by Germany in the quarter-finals.
