POR vs SUI : Goncalo Ramos, who took Cristiano Ronaldo’s place in the Portuguese squad, scored a hat-trick as the 2016 UEFA Euro champions destroyed Switzerland 6-1 on Wednesday in the Round of 16 contest at the Lusail Stadium. On Saturday, the Ronaldo-led Portuguese side will play Morocco in the World Cup quarterfinals.
Prior to Portugal’s match against Switzerland in the round of 16, coach Santos had publicly criticized Ronaldo’s actions following the 37-year-substitution old’s during the team’s last group game in Qatar. In the Round of 16 encounters at the Qatar World Cup. Portugal thrashed the Swiss 6-1 with Goncalo Ramos starting in place of Cristiano Ronaldo.
POR vs SUI: Pepe becomes the oldest defender to score in World cup
POR vs SUI: Pepe became the oldest defender in World cup history with this incredible assist that earned him his 133rd Portugal cap. He was fearsome as ever merely to look at, strong in the challenge, and deft in his positioning. Pepe’s opportunity came as a result of a mystical injury that left Danilo Pereira with 3 broken ribs. While his great form shouldn’t come as a surprise given his outstanding notable accomplishments for Porto. One speculates that his most crucial role for Portugal will actually be respectively now and Saturday’s quarterfinal match against Morocco. Pepe turns 40 in Feb.
Ronaldo’s absence from this game was Santos’ greatest professional judgment. And he now needs Pepe—clearly his next most powerful dressing-room figure—to assist manage a sensitive intrinsic team balance and maintaining team spirit.
POR vs SUI: Santos’ decision to play Ronaldo after the 73rd minute
POR vs SUI: Although Santos’s choice was probably wise, it was nevertheless apparent that Ronaldo was in the tunnel upon the final blow before the majority of his mates. In contrast, Pepe remained for at least 10 minutes. Taking the time to both express his joy to the Portugal supporters and just sign a large number of signatures.
Ronaldo seemed legitimately happy as Pepe, a player he has associated so much for the national side. He rose to send Portugal into a 2-0 lead. Despite the fact that it must have been easy for him to enjoy the wider unrestrained joy. At his direct successor Goncalo Ramos scoring a hat-trick.
POR vs SUI: Ramos’ dream hattrick leads Portugal to the quarterfinals
POR vs SUI: Ramos sprinted around the near post to push in Diogo Dalot’s perfect pass past Yann Sommer’s undercarriage, set up Raphael Guerreiro for the 4th, and then shanked a fifth as the Swiss defense crumbled.
Subtle acts can have a big impact, and it was evident. When Ronaldo did enter the game after 73 minutes that Pepe made a point of making sure he received the captain’s armband back right away.
Ramos scored in his first international match at the age of 21. With a rocket drive beyond goalkeeper Yann Sommer’s back post. While seasoned defender Pepe, 39, became the oldest goalscorer in a World Cup knockout encounter with a thundering header.
Goncalo Ramos destroyed the Swiss defense
For his second goal, Ramos connected with a low cross from defensive full back Diogo Dalot and tucked it in between Sommer’s legs to open the 2nd half. After a well-executed team play, Raphael Guerreiro added a fourth goal with a strong shot.
At 58 mins, Manuel Akanji created room at the face of the goal from an edge and easily glanced in to give Switzerland a lead again. However, the goal did not inspire a triumphant return. As Ramos added a third goal with a skillful chip over Sommer. To become the youngest male player to achieve a hat trick in a World Cup knockout game since Brazilian legend Pele in 1958.
Rafael Leao’s last-minute curler
In the 72nd minute, Ronaldo came off the bench just in time. For Rafael Leao to score a beautiful goal in extra time to give Portugal their sixth and final goal.
Rafael Leo sailed in for an outstanding sixth. Stop the clocks everywhere; you were mistaken to believe that the Swiss would endure forever. The 1st instance Portugal had won a World Cup elimination round by two or more goals since 1966. This was their best achievement in a championship elimination game.
Portugal had lost in the group stage (Brazil 2014) and the round of 16 (South Africa 2010 and Russia 2018) since the 2006 World Cup in Deutschland. This was their first playoff triumph ever until.
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