How Can USA Stop Cristiano Ronaldo In Portugal Clash?

USA are only hours away from their all important World Cup clash against Portugal, but can they win? They're coming in to this game high off their first game win over Ghana, but this game will be a different beast of sorts. To stop Portugal, and most certainly to beat Portugal, you must stop Cristiano Ronaldo. Easy, right? Not quite. He is one of the world's best players. Truth be told, USA could be the far better team, with Ronaldo making the difference at the end (as Lionel Messi did against Iran yesterday). So, how can USA stop the unstoppable force that is Ronaldo?

USA were all smiles a few days ago as rumours surfaced suggesting that Ronaldo would not be fit to face them. However, it looks a certainty that he will take the field. Whether he is fully fit or not is another matter. The US will need to prepare for the same Ronaldo regardless. Take England recently. They faced Uruguay with a half-fit Luis Suarez, yet backed off for the majority of the game. The striker made them pay as he scored twice to send them to a 2-1 victory. The US cannot give Ronaldo the benefit of the doubt, and they most certainly cannot give him the space England gave Suarez.

USA star Jermaine Jones is confident that as a team they can beat Portugal, rather than focusing on indivudals. He explained "I always say that a team is important, not maybe two or three key players. So if you stick together like a team, and fight like a team ... you will win the game. The NBA game, or NBA finals, showed how it works. The Spurs were the better team and this is why they won the championship."

The NBA comparison is a good one, as Ronaldo is as important to Portugal as LeBron James is to the Miami Heat. As we know, the best players can be beaten by the better team, on the night, or at least the better performers. The USA can win, but they must stop Ronaldo by any means possible.