Portugal 6-1 Switzerland: Ronaldo substitute Ramos scores hat-trick as Portugal advance
Portugal coach Fernando Santos benched Cristiano Ronaldo for the round of 16 against Switzerland and was rewarded with a hat-trick from substitute Goncalo Ramos and an impressive team performance.
Santos expressed his displeasure at Ronaldo’s gestures when he was substituted in the final group game against South Korea and it was the first time in 31 games since 2008 that he had not started in a major tournament.
Portugal poked fun at the 37-year-old’s absence, to say the least, as 21-year-old Benfica striker Ramos scored the first treble of the tournament on his first international appearance, helping in the quarter-finals against surprise package Morocco following their win against Spain in a penalty shootout.
Ramos began the defeat after 17 minutes when he passed Swiss keeper Jan Sommer at the near post, before experienced defender Pepe, 39, doubled the Portuguese lead when he headed in Bruno Fernandes’ corner in the 33rd minute.
The dream debut continued as Ramos ended the fight six minutes after the break with a close swipe of the post at Diogo Dalot’s cross. The forward turned the assist to set up Raphael Guerriero, who rounded off a sweeping action with a powerful strike four minutes later.
Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji retrieved one for Switzerland, but Ramos quickly scored his third with a clever lob, giving the crowd at the Lusail Stadium the signal to clamor for Ronaldo’s introduction.
Portugal coach Ramos was signed with the game won, Ronaldo stepped in to thunderous applause, but his team-mates deserve all the credit for a quality performance.
Ronaldo had the ball in the net but was ruled offside so it was another young contender for his crown, 23-year-old Rafael Leao, who capped a stunning performance as he curled in the sixth goal.
Portugal shrugs off Ronaldo subplot
The absence of Cristiano Ronaldo hasn’t robbed the fading superstar of the limelight and attention, but made it shine even brighter in his direction at Lusail Stadium.
Ronaldo was swarmed by photographers in the dugout after the national anthems and then greeted by a pop star when he was brought on after 74 minutes after long and vociferous calls for his induction, particularly from the locals who had come to see him.
However, the focus should not be on Ronaldo.
Credit must go to a Portugal team that looked more mobile, fluid and unified without the man currently looking for his next club having left Manchester United.
Portugal are a side full of talent even without Ronaldo and Ramos immediately impressed, not only with his goals but also with his movement and team play.
And Rafael Leao’s sweet late goal was further evidence of Portugal’s bright future, which looked little threatened without Ronaldo as they swept aside Switzerland.
Portugal coach Santos is a strict man but a smart player with a Euro 2016 triumph on his CV. He would be right to smile after his courageous but ultimately correct decision to let his team’s commanding presence out.
It was such a complete performance by Portugal that Ronaldo certainly won’t be eligible for the upcoming World Cup quarter-finals against Morocco.
Switzerland says goodbye with a whimper
Led by experienced coach Murat Yakin, Switzerland made their way to the last 16 of the World Cup as a stubborn, well-organized and hard-to-beat team.
If so, that was a pale reflection of their true quality as they were picked apart by Portugal and barely threatened goalkeeper Diogo Costa, with Xherdan Shaqiri – their best hope for inspiration – remaining anonymous throughout.
Switzerland may take reaching the knockout stages for granted in this tournament, but disappointment at the meek and mediocre manner in which they left Qatar must nevertheless be great, as previous evidence suggests that they are a much better team than the one that was beaten here .
player of the game
Goncalo RamosGoncalo Ramos
lineups
Portugal
formation 4-3-3
- 22Diogo Costa
- 2Dalot
- 3Pepe
- 4Ruben Dias
- 5Guerreiro
- 25OtavioReplaced byVitinhaat 74′protocol
- 14William Carvalho
- 10Bernhard SilvaReplaced byNevesat 81′protocol
- 8thBruno FernandesReplaced byRafael Leaoat 87′protocol
- 26Goncalo RamosReplaced byRichard Hortaat 74′protocol
- 11Joao FelixReplaced byCristiano Ronaldoat 73′protocol
substitute
- 1Rui Patricio
- 6João Palhinha
- 7Cristiano Ronaldo
- 9Andre Silva
- 12sat
- fifteenRafael Leao
- 16Vitinha
- 17João Mario
- 18Neves
- 20Abort
- 21Richard Horta
- 23well
- 24Antonio Silva
Switzerland
formation 3-1-4-2
- 1Summer
- 5akanji
- 22SchärBooked at 43 minutesReplaced byKömertat 45′protocolBooked at 59 minutes
- 13Rodriguez
- 10Xhaka
- 2Fernandes
- fifteensowReplaced bySeferovicat 54′protocol
- 8thFreulerReplaced byZakariaat 54′protocol
- 17VargasReplaced byOKat 66′protocol
- 7EmboloReplaced byjashariat 89′protocol
- 23Shaqiri
substitute
- 4Elvedi
- 6Zakaria
- 9Seferovic
- 11Steffen
- 12Omlin
- 14Aebischer
- 16carnival
- 18Kömert
- 19OK
- 20Free
- 21kobel
- 24koehn
- 25Rieder
- 26jashari
- Referee:
- Cesar Arturo Ramos Palazuelos
- Participation:
- 83,720
live text
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Game ends, Portugal 6, Switzerland 1.
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End of the second half, Portugal 6, Switzerland 1.
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Xherdan Shaqiri (Switzerland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Ricardo Horta (Portugal).
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attempt blocked. Rúben Dias (Portugal) header from the center of the box is blocked. Assisted by Vitinha with a cross.
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Corner, Portugal. Compensation by Eray Cömert.
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Goal! 6th Portugal, 1st Switzerland. Rafael Leão (Portugal) right footed shot from the left side of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Raphael Guerreiro.
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Away from Switzerland. Haris Seferovic tries a through ball, but Noah Okafor is caught offside.
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Substitution Switzerland. Ardon Jashari replaces Breel Embolo.
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Substitution, Portugal. Rafael Leao replaces Bruno Fernandes.
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Foul by Noah Okafor (Switzerland).
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Bruno Fernandes (Portugal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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attempt blocked. Noah Okafor (Switzerland) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Haris Seferovic.
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Offside Portugal. William Carvalho tries a through ball, but Cristiano Ronaldo is caught offside.
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Xherdan Shaqiri (Switzerland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Raphaël Guerreiro (Portugal).
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Substitution, Portugal. Ruben Neves replaces Bernardo Silva.
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attempt failed. Granit Xhaka (Switzerland) header from the center of the box is too high. Assisted by Xherdan Shaqiri with a cross from a corner.
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Corner, Switzerland. Goal conceded by Diogo Dalot.
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attempt blocked. Breel Embolo (Switzerland) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Xherdan Shaqiri.
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