I’m back, says Ronaldo

…as he fires Portugal to 5-0 win over Uzbekistan

CRISTIANO Ronaldo silenced his critics in spectacular fashion, becoming the first player to score ​in six World Cups while netting twice in Portugal’s emphatic 5-0 Group K rout of Uzbekistan in Houston on Tuesday.

After the match ‌the 41-year-old shouted “I’m back, I’m back” into the television cameras - an outpouring after critics had questioned his place in the team following a goal-scoring drought that had extended to 10 matches in major finals.

Allowed time and space in the box, Ronaldo was deadly in punishing an outclassed Uzbekistan as he took his ​overall World Cup tally to 10 goals, moving past Eusebio as Portugal’s all-time leading marksman at the global finals.

Portugal, who have four points from two games, face Colombia in their final Group K match, while Uzbekistan, teetering on the brink of elimination with no points, play DR Congo in their last outing.

Portugal ramped up the intensity from the opening whistle as players seemed to want to ​make amends for the opening 1-1 draw with the Democratic Republic of Congo as they moved the ball quickly up the pitch to create ​a host of chances.

Meanwhile, England coach Thomas Tuchel admitted his team had lacked a cutting edge in a frustrating 0-0 draw with Ghana on Tuesday, but insisted there were plenty of positive signs going forward in their quest to win the World Cup.

England had 79 percent of the possession but could not break down a determined Ghanaian defence in the Group L contest. They also lacked the cutting edge which made the difference in their opening 4-2 win over Croatia in Dallas, having 19 attempts on goal but managing only three on target.

Tuchel also admitted that the match could serve as a “reality check,” even if the outcome is hardly too problematic for England – they have four points from two games and a win against Panama at MetLife Stadium on Saturday will clinch progress to the last 32 as group winners.

The Three Lions remain unbeaten against African opponents at World Cups but the Black Stars were clearly delighted with the point, which keeps them on course to make the knockout phase for the first time since they got to the quarter-finals in 2010.

And Daniel Munoz’s deflected strike was enough for Colombia to beat DR Congo and secure their place in the World Cup knockout stage.

Roared on by the vast majority of the crowd in Guadalajara, Colombia missed a host of chances before Crystal Palace wing-back Munoz broke the deadlock in the 76th minute.

A second straight win puts Colombia top of Group K and clinches their place in the last 32, while DR Congo are third and need to beat Uzbekistan in their last group game to have any chance of progressing. – REUTERS/BBC.