By Nils Malzahn
The World Cup is over for Cristiano Ronaldo (37). After a 0-1 draw against Morocco, the superstar and Portugal are eliminated in the quarter-finals.
Inactive and helpless, he has to watch from the bench for 51 minutes before coach Fernando Santos (68) replaces him. The decisive goal has already been scored…
Ronaldo’s girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez (28), who is cheering in the stands – and venting her anger at not considering her partner after the final whistle on Instagram, cannot intervene at all.
Consolation from coach Fernando Santos after losing to Morocco Photo: picture alliance / ASSOCIATED PR
“Today your friend and coach made the wrong decision. The friend for whom you have so many words of admiration and respect,” the Argentine begins her post. “He saw that everything changed when you entered the game, but by then it was too late.”
Then Georgina becomes clear: “One should not underestimate the best player in the world and thus the most powerful weapon one has.” A clear criticism of the line-up of the Portugal coach!
“You shouldn’t stand up for anyone who doesn’t deserve it,” writes Georgina at the end of her scolding. “Today we didn’t lose, we learned. We admire you.”
Even after a missed goal chance in the game against Morocco, Ronaldo seems close to tears Photo: picture alliance / ASSOCIATED PR
Cristiano Ronaldo and Fernando Santos celebrated great successes with the national team. The oldie coach has been in office for eight years, and Ronaldo has always found words of praise for his work. The pictures are legendary when Ronaldo took over coaching on the sidelines in the 2016 European Championship final against France (1-0). In tears, he had to be replaced early on after a foul.
Now there were tears again!
In the three preliminary round games, the striker without a club had always played from the start. In the round of 16 against Switzerland (6:1), Santos surprisingly put him on the bench. Ronaldo substitute Gonçalo Ramos (21) scored three goals straight away and was therefore allowed to play again from the start against Morocco.
To the chagrin of Ronaldo and Georgina…