Euro 2012: The Cristiano Ronaldo show proves too much for Czech Republic to bear in quarter-final Ronaldo began playing on the left, with Nani patrolling the right. Up against him was Theodor Gebre Selassie, the young defender who has shone in this tournament. The Czech coach Michael Bilek had insisted he had not given his man any additional psychological counselling ahead of his task. The full-back looked relaxed as he followed his man everywhere, a couple of times nicking the ball off him, a couple of times taking advantage of the fact there was inevitably space down his wing into which he himself might attack. Ronaldo, obviously, doesn't do anything as down market as defending. With the star attraction thus contained the booing started on the half hour. With no particular emotional investment, the crowd was happy to react to Ronaldo as he performed, here either to swoon or swear at him. Take the free kick he addressed in the 34th minute. His Jonny Wilkinson build up - the paces backwards, the legs apart stance - was whistled intemperately. When he missed, there was great cheering, as much at his look of petulant fury on the giant screen as at his failure. Like the rest of the world, the Poles appear to enjoy the sight of a smart-arse discomforted. But then, as the lightening crackled above the stadium's closed roof, so Ronaldo began to spark into life. Perhaps claustrophobic at Gebre Selassie's attentions, he switched wings with Nani, then moved inside to centre forward. Here is where many believe he is at his most dangerous, his strength and control equipping him to do maximum damage against back-pedalling defenders. And, right on half time, he beautifully brought down Raul Meireles's pass before striking the post. The Czech players may not have gone near a razor, but Ronaldo again shaved their woodwork early in the second half, when a free kick had Petr Cech scrabbling across his goal. So the pattern was established: Ronaldo threatening, the Czechs resisting. Just as the crowd started to slow hand clap, just as it seemed this game was heading towards the tournament's first goalless 90 minutes, the game's sole star turn struck. He then ran to the Portuguese bench punching his chest. How he worked for that goal, belting into space, his legs going at roadrunner pace. When a convertible cross finally arrived, it might have evaded his team-mate Hugo Almeida, but Ronaldo was poised and ready. That is why Portugal are progressing to the semi final. And that is why they believe they have in their number the best player in the world: he works tirelessly to deliver when it matters. For the Czechs, there is the thinnest consolation: at last they can have a shave. That is if they can get the dressing room mirror off the match winner.