The Portuguese national team, unlike its neighbors from Spain, entered the 1/8 final match of the World Cup in Qatar as the last battle. The Red-Greens tore the Swiss national team to shreds, winning 6-1. What is most interesting, without its main star and leader Cristiano Ronaldo! Moreover, enchanting in this match 21-year-old Goncalo Ramos, who replaced the star striker at the start.

However, Ronaldo still managed to break the applause. Didn’t even have to score!

In a word, legend

Before the start of the match between Portugal and Switzerland, the decision of head coach Fernando Santos not to include Cristiano Ronaldo in the starting XI was truly surprising. In the last match with South Korea, the star forward expressed dissatisfaction with the decision of Santos to replace him in the 65th minute of the meeting. After that, the absence of a striker at the start of the game with Switzerland was associated by many with this. However, the coach quickly dispelled the rumors:

– It has nothing to do with [с матчем против Южной Кореи], this question is closed. This is the variant that we have been preparing for this game for several days. A tactical decision, nothing more. Cristiano is an exemplary professional, and if he comes out today, he will help Portugal a lot,” Santos said on Sport TV.

Instead of Ronaldo, Ramos, who had previously played for the national team in just four matches, came out in the center of the Portuguese attack. The coach’s decision looked as ambiguous as possible, but it paid off to the maximum. The young striker scored… a hat-trick and an assist! Such a performance was clearly not expected not only by Santos, but, probably, by Goncalo himself.

Already in the 73rd minute, the Portuguese mentor decided that enough was enough for the young striker. And finally released on the field of Ronaldo. However, as soon as Cristiano appeared at the edge in anticipation of a replacement, the stadium exploded with loud applause. The stands have never made such noise in this match, despite the abundance of goals! That’s popularity. You don’t even have to play!

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And the head coach of the Portuguese national team should be praised for such a development of events. Santos has a brilliant feel for the team and directs the game. If the team maintains the mood for the remaining matches, it may well create history in the tournament.