The Portuguese star had a tough start to his sixth World Cup, while the sport’s biggest names one after another immediately delivered on football’s biggest stage: Lionel Messi, Erling Braut Haaland, Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé and – not least – the national team’s Polish players Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyökeres.
Ronaldo scored two goals as Uzbekistan were crushed 5-0 on Tuesday night. Anthony Elanga was composed, despite training and a subsequent meeting with Swedish and international media.
It should be said straight away: Elanga is full of admiration even for Messi, who turns 39 on Wednesday.
“You have to enjoy it. I can’t choose Ronaldo or Messi,” he says.
Learned from Ronaldo
What’s it like to play in the same World Cup as them?
Big. I can learn a lot from them. Especially Ronaldo, who I played with at Manchester United. I learned a lot from him, on and off the pitch. It’s a great honour to have played with him.
“I just wish he would continue like this,” says Elanga.
What did you learn from Ronaldo?
How he is after training and stuff. How he handles his recovery. Lots of things.
Are you playing until you’re 40-41?
We’ll see. I’m only 24 now. You never know. When I’m 33? You never know.
Elanga has been in and out of Graham Potter’s national team. He started in both playoff matches against Ukraine and Poland. So far at the World Cup he has made appearances, a short one against Tunisia and a longer one against the Netherlands.
In the latter, he scored a beautiful goal. He came on with energy and speed. On Fox Sports, he was praised by expert commentator Zlatan Ibrahimović.
“It means a lot. I’ve had the opportunity to play with him in the national team. When he talks, you listen.”
Reading the Bible
Elanga doesn’t make a big deal out of the fact that he has been out of the starting eleven so far.
“I have to be ready, take my chance when I get it. I have a lot of confidence in Graham, he knows what he’s doing. Millions would like to be in my position, at a World Cup. We are 26 players, of course everyone wants to play. We trust Graham.”
In the fateful match against Japan at 1 a.m. on Friday, he accepts his role, whatever it may be. He is a deep believer and reads the Bible every day when he has time.
“It gives me peace and patience. It helps me if I’m not allowed to play. Reading the Bible means a lot to me and it’s advice I can give others to do as well.”
