Barred, Cristiano Ronaldo sees substitute score three and Portugal dominate Switzerland

Gonçalo Ramos was called up to defend Portugal in the World Cup without ever playing for the country’s main team.

In the first phase of the tournament, he accumulated just ten minutes on the field, entering the final part of the duels with Ghana and Uruguay. Against South Korea, he didn’t even leave the bench.

Even so, he was chosen by Fernando Santos to replace Cristiano Ronaldo, the biggest name in the history of Portuguese football, barred by the coach.

The choice was bold, but proved to be accurate.

With three goals from the striker – his first for the national team in an official competition –, Portugal thrashed Switzerland this Tuesday (6th), at the Lusail stadium, by 6-1, qualifying for the quarterfinals of the World Cup. In the next phase, they will face Morocco, responsible for eliminating Spain.

Not only for the elastic score but also for the performance of the Portuguese, the victory over the Swiss gave morale to Fernando Santos, who surprised by disclosing the list of starters without Cristiano.

The decision was motivated in part by the athlete’s attitude in the last game of the group stage, against South Korea. Substituted half an hour before the final whistle, he appeared irritated. Official FIFA footage captured him saying something along the lines of “what a fucking rush to get me out”.

Minutes before the ball rolled in Lusail, Fernando Santos tried to minimize his own decision. “It’s a strategic issue that was already being prepared,” he said.

Throughout the week, the Portuguese press was divided in relation to the controversy.

The newspaper Record maintained in its headline that, despite the problem, the Portuguese team “are 10 more Ronaldo”. The newspaper O Jogo stated that “winning is the best medicine” for the crisis. The traditional A Bola highlighted the title “Orelhas a arder”, talking about Ronaldo’s statements against the coach.

But who ended up stealing the show was Gonçalo Ramos.

The striker opened the scoring in the 17th minute of the opening stage with his first shot. He received a pass from João Félix, turned and hit first, with power and precision.

With the goal early, Switzerland could no longer play closed back, as they did in the group stage against Brazil, when they locked themselves in defense and were only leaked in the final part of the game, with a goal by Casemiro.

It was necessary to go out to seek the tie, even if it left spaces in the defense. That was how Gonçalo Ramos almost scored twice more, stopping in good saves by goalkeeper Sommer. The number 1, however, could not prevent Pepe from scoring the second Portuguese goal, in the 33rd minute.

After the break, with just ten minutes left, Gonçalo Ramos showed two facets on the field. In the first, he once again proved his nose as a scorer, by scoring the third, in the 6th minute. At ten, it was time to show himself to be a good waiter and serve Raphaël, scorer of the fourth Portuguese goal.

Not even when Manuel Akanji cashed out, at 13, Fernando Santos’ team allowed the opponent to grow in the match.

The partial victory by 4-1 still did not leave the fans satisfied. The vast majority wanted to see Cristiano Ronaldo on the field and began to shout his name after 15 minutes. The coach only answered the request at 29.

Before that, the star saw his substitute score another goal from the bench. At 22, the number 26 received from João Félix and scored his third, the fifth for the Portuguese.

When he entered the field, Cristiano Ronaldo was applauded by the crowd. And he fought to at least make his mark on the game. At 38 minutes, he managed to score, but had his goal disallowed due to clear impediment.

It would be his first in the knockout phase of the World Cup. He has eight in the competition and is the only player in history to have found the net in five different editions but never scored in the knockout clashes.

Luckily for Portugal —which even expanded in additions, with Rafael Leão—, this time, it didn’t even have to. All thanks to Gonçalo Ramos.