Portugal forward Luis Figo often skulks around the pitch with the look of a man who is carrying the world on his shoulders.
FRANKFURT: Portugal forward Luis Figo often skulks around the pitch with the look of a man who is carrying the world on his shoulders.
The 33-year-old's demeanour suggests a belief that there should be a rule banning opponents from tackling him and he is often on the ground, waving pretend yellow cards.
Yet when he finds time to play some football Figo, who last year backtracked on his decision to quit the international scene, remains hugely valuable to Portugal.
He proved his worth again on Saturday by setting up both goals in a 2-0 Group D win that sent Luiz Felipe Scolari's team into the last 16 and condemned Iran to another first-round exit.
After 63 minutes of niggly and drab football, Figo burst down the left, cut inside and lined up a perfect ball for Deco to fire home superbly from about 25 metres.
Iran missed two good chances to equalise before Figo won the penalty from which Cristiano Ronaldo added the second with 10 minutes to go.
As Figo bore down on goal, defender Yahya Golmohammadi lunged recklessly and the Portuguese winger went down with the Iranians furiously protesting no contact had been made.
Cristiano Ronaldo ignored the controversy and put the ball away from the spot before celebrating wildly.
The Manchester United winger, who appeared unhappy after being substituted in the 1-0 win over Angola, this time produced a mixed performance.
The 21-year-old often tries to be too clever for his own good and, like his team, only really got going after the goal.
At one stage, his fancy footwork was too much even for him as he tripped over the ball and was dispossessed.
He also incurred the wrath of teammate Pauleta in the first half by trying to shoot from an impossible angle instead of producing a more straightforward cross to the far post.
The result was well in excess of the expectations of Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, who ventured before the game that he would have been happy with a half-nil win.
The Brazilian, however, must know that his team need to improve dramatically if they want to get beyond the last 16. Before Portugal's late flourish, the two sides produced one of the dullest games of the tournament so far as Iran defended doggedly but rarely threatened Ricardo's goal.
Scolari is known as an inspirational coach and thrives in the cut-throat competition of a cup tournament.
With Portugal due to face Argentina or Netherlands in the last 16, he will have to use all his considerable motivational skills to take his side any further.
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