It says so much about Cristiano Ronaldo’s star energy that even a thumping 6-1 win for Portugal gained’t take the main target away from him.
Ronaldo was sensationally dropped for Portugal’s spherical of 16 conflict with Switzerland after a subpar World Cup in Qatar.
Goncalo Ramos justified the shock determination to drop Ronaldo by scoring a hat-trick on his full debut as Portugal demolished Switzerland 6-1 to energy into the World Cup quarter-finals.
The 21-year-old Ramos, who began as an alternative of Ronaldo, turned the youngest participant to strike thrice in a World Cup knockout match since Pele in 1958.
Ramos has now scored three objectives within the knockout phases of a World Cup, whereas Ronaldo has none throughout greater than 500 minutes.
Now it appears unlikely Ronaldo will begin Portugal’s quarterfinal with Morocco, who knocked out Spain on penalties.
So why was Ronaldo dropped?
The warning indicators have been there.
Portugal coach Fernando Santos stated he was unimpressed with Ronaldo’s behaviour after he reacted badly to being substituted throughout the remaining group stage sport towards Korea Republic.
“I didn’t like it at all. I didn’t like it at all,” Santos stated earlier than the Switzerland conflict.
Speaking after the 6-1 win, Santos revealed why he dropped Ronaldo, saying it was “strategic and nothing more”.
“Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the best players in the world playing professionally and as a captain … so we have to just think about this team collectively,” he stated.
Asked whether or not it was probably the most troublesome determination of his profession to go away out Ronaldo, Santos stated: “I have a very close relationship I always have, known him since he was 19 at Sporting, and then for years here in the national squad,” he stated.
“Ronaldo and I never confuse the human and personal aspect with the coach and player relationship. He is a very important player to have in the team,” he stated.
Santos stated he anticipated a “very difficult” sport towards Morocco within the quarter-finals however stated his crew have been clearly in good type.
“If we can continue like this and improve some things then that is a good path,” he added.
But the reality is that Portugal look a greater crew with out the 37-year-old ahead.
Ronaldo got here into the World Cup after a disjointed season with Manchester United, the place he struggled to carry a spot within the beginning crew.
It ended badly along with his contract mutually terminated after he gave an explosive interview with Piers Morgan criticising the English membership.
Now Ronaldo is in talks to signal a blockbuster cope with Saudi Arabian aspect Al-Nassr following his high-profile exit from Manchester United.
It says so much about the place Ronaldo is in his profession that he’s headed to the Middle East on a giant cash deal.
His place at Portugal is much like Gareth Bale at Wales throughout the World Cup.
Wales struggled with an ageing Bale not enjoying with the tempo and energy of his peak.
It’s the identical with Ronaldo, with a Portugal crew that features Bernado Silba and Bruno Fernandes trying a greater crew with out him.
The query is how does Ronaldo now react to this dumping?
The picture of him strolling straight off the sphere after the full-time whistle wasn’t an important signal.
Ronaldo got here on as a late substitute however walked straight off reasonably than rejoice along with his teammates.
Former Manchester United teammate Gary Neville stated the “sulking” from Ronaldo must cease.
“This is a manager who has got an unbelievable relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo for eight years and there are a lot of fans of Ronaldo who are not willing to tell him the truth,” Neville stated on ITV earlier than the sport this morning.
“I think he does need to listen to the truth that it is becoming a little bit of a scruffy end.
“It would not surprise that he comes on tonight and scores the winner but the petulance, the stomping around, the sulking, it’s got to stop because it does not reflect well on him at all.
“His long-term legacy is set, he is one of the great all-time players.”
Ronaldo might play an important position for Portugal in Qatar.
They face a Morocco crew that’s solely conceded one aim in 4 video games, so having a star like Ronaldo in your bench isn’t the worst factor on this planet.
Ronaldo has performed one thing that no different male participant might ever repeat – he’s scored at 5 straight World Cups.
Even enjoying at 5 World Cups is an achievement as a result of it means you’re a world participant for a minimum of 16 years.
His legacy as one of many best of all time is assured. But how he reacts to this morning’s dumping might have a giant say in simply how far Portugal goes at this World Cup.
Originally printed as Why Ronaldo needed to be dropped for Portugal’s World Cup conflict
