For the first time since 2008, Cristiano Ronaldo did not start for Portugal in a big tournament, yet he went on to become a star as Manchester United struggled without him.
better off without him, as Portugal coach Fernando Santos was rewarded with a 6-1 victory against Switzerland to advance to the World Cup quarterfinal against Morocco for his bold decision to leave his country’s star player out in an all-out onslaught.
Santos got the nail on the head when his youthful Gonzalo Ramos was about to score a hat-trick, and he won the choice to fire Ronaldo after publicly criticising him after he was dismissed in the last group game against South Korea.
Portugal has achieved the inconceivable in at least 31 games, which has been difficult for the 37-year-old Ronaldo’s dignity and self-esteem. First, his Manchester United career was controversially ended due to his public criticism of the club.
prior to Euro 2008, and omitted him from the starting lineup for a major competition.
It was undoubtedly a risky decision during this World Cup and the most significant in Santos’ eight years as Portugal’s coach.
Santos, despite having the Euro 2016 title on his record, is aware of the risks involved in such a quick change.
Cristiano Ronaldo wouldn’t be taking the World Cup trophy out of Portugal if they lost, as would be obvious.
Santos, in contrast, observed that Portugal appeared to be a healthy, dynamic, and menacing team without Ronaldo’s domineering presence.
Although Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes controlled the midfield for Portugal, Ramos, a 21-year-old Benfica striker who was previously unproven at this level of performance, assumed all of the responsibilities up front as an easy replacement for Ronaldo.
Formerly meek but talented Joo Felix appeared to be having as much fun as the other Portuguese internationals.
Jan Sommer, a poacher from Switzerland who crashed through the bar before dancing superbly for his hat trick, ended well behind Ramos in the final goal.
Portugal’s first full-length debut
Before this match, Ronaldo played 514 minutes of the World Cup playoffs without netting a single goal.
In 67 minutes, Ramos scored three goals.
With his second goal, Pepe, 39, showed that Santos didn’t care about his age, and Ramos proved he could do it again by defeating Rafael Guerriro 4-0.
The Portuguese national icon was sitting there while cameras caught every facial expression. Ronaldo had begun to show signs of his international career since his time at Manchester United.
After the national anthems had completed playing, he was encircled by hundreds of cameras and almost saw what happened when Portugal showed they were better without him by backing a disheartened Switzerland.
When Ramos defeated Portugal 5-1, loud cries of “Ronaldo” and his trademark jubilant “Chiu” chants started to fill Lucile’s main stadium.
Ronaldo is the most in-demand athlete in this nation, and it appears that many people paid to watch him.
Perhaps the poor Swiss supporters hoped Santos would get rid of Ramos, who has been tormenting him.
With 16 seconds left, Santos retired, and Joao Felix was replaced by Ronaldo to welcome the pop icon.
The ageing Italian has struggled to make a significant impact on the World Cup qualifiers, so it won’t be simple or even funny.
There was eager expectation every time Ronaldo touched the ball because everyone in the stadium wanted to see the old magic in action.
They nearly witnessed him fire, but there was a commotion as the offside flag was raised.
Another young Portuguese striker named Rafael Leo joined the pitch and finished what Ronaldo had started, robbing him of another brief opportunity.
With an exquisite curling shot into the top corner, the 23-year-old future AC Milan star secured the victory.
The Portuguese crowd applauded Cristiano Ronaldo and yelled his name multiple times throughout the match.
After the final whistle, Ronaldo started to make his way down the tunnel to the cheers of the audience, leaving the true celebration to his Portugal team, which included my colleagues, who gave their all during this World Cup and did not frighten anyone.
such as this.
Ronaldo can still have a significant impact on this tournament as he looks to win over a new squad, but he will struggle to get going against Morocco.
He was expelled from Manchester United for disparaging the club’s management and currently lives in exile in Portugal, where he is regarded as untouchable.
Ronaldo was, as the cliché goes, the future.
The future belongs to the up-and-coming stars, and it is becoming more and more like the past.
Leon and E. Ramos
So what about the nation’s and the club’s deceased idol?
mr
On the contrary, the bench is unquestionably superior.
