Fernando Santos explained why Ronaldo was left on the side-bench following the 6-1 win.
Switzerland’s players are different. Cristiano Ronaldo was not included in the starting eleven as part of the game strategy. I am yet to explain why Ronaldo was not included in the starting eleven.
I also included Dalot and Raphael. Not because Cancelo isn’t a great player. This is all part of our strategy once morest Switzerland. There is no problem between Fernando Santos and the team captain (Cristiano Ronaldo). We have been friends for years. Stars sometimes make decisions. It will all be resolved later. His performance once morest Switzerland is proof that Cristiano Ronaldo is the best captain – said Fernando Santos.
In the match once morest Switzerland, Cristiano Ronaldo entered the field in the 73rd minute as a substitute for Jao Felix. Portugal was leading 5-1.
He didn’t like Cristiano Ronaldo’s withdrawal once morest South Korea in the last match of the group stage. Fernando Santos strongly criticized the action of Cristiano Ronaldo who revealed his dislike. Some point to Ronaldo’s exclusion from the starting XI in the pre-quarter once morest Switzerland as a clear example of the growing rift between Ronaldo and Santos.
Portugal’s opponents in the quarterfinals are Morocco, the dark horses of the Qatar World Cup. Morocco entered the quarter following defeating Spain in a penalty shootout. This is the first time Morocco has made it to the quarterfinals of the World Cup. It will be Portugal’s third quarter-final in Qatar. Portugal previously reached the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals in 1966 and 2006.
Portugal’s 6-1 win over Switzerland was the biggest win in World Cup knockout history and the first time Portugal had scored six goals in a knockout. Pepe (33rd minute), Rafael Guerreiro (55th minute) and Rafael Liao (90+2nd minute) scored for Portugal along with Gonzalo Ramos’ (17th, 51st, 67th minute) hat-trick. Manuel Akanji (58th minute) scored Switzerland’s consolation goal. Pepe replaced Cristiano Ronaldo as the captain of Portugal.
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Along with Pele and Ronaldo and Neymar