Cristiano Ronaldo was not in the starting XI for Portugal’s thumping victory in the round of 16 against Switzerland. The fact that things went so well for his nation was reminiscent of the EM 2016.
The World Cup is the only trophy Cristiano Ronaldo is missing. The superstar has collected countless titles with his clubs Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus Turin, and he was also successful with the Portuguese national team at the 2016 European Championship. The shortcoming of the European title six years ago, however: Portugal won the final almost without Ronaldo.
The striker was injured in the early stages of the game against France, which his team then won 1-0 after extra time. The images of Ronaldo cheering on the sidelines and coaching his teammates went around the world. And judging from Tuesday night’s impressions, there could be similar scenes on December 18 at the Lusail Iconic Stadium in Qatar.
Portugal without Ronaldo a candidate for the World Cup
In the 6-1 round of 16 win against Switzerland, the Portuguese made an impressive impression of being one of the favorites for the title of the World Cup tournament. And that without Ronaldo. Before the game, Fernando Santos surprisingly decided to put the 37-year-old on the bench – and made the right decision.
The veteran coach opted for top talent Goncalo Ramos instead. The Benfica striker had previously played 33 minutes in just three short appearances for the Portuguese national team. But after his performance, there will be a few more to come at this World Cup.
Representative Ramos is brilliant – and Ronaldo is happy too
With a three-pack, Ramos decided the game almost single-handedly. The 21-year-old made it 1-0 with a powerful left-footed shot (106 km/h), at 3-0 he tipped the ball like a center forward through the legs of Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer and finally there was a lob to crown his working day to 5-1.
Ronaldo, who came on as a substitute in the 73rd minute, had to watch it all from the substitutes’ bench. The superstar has known this feeling from the past few months, at Manchester United this fate overtook him several times, in October he even left the game against Tottenham Hotspur (2-0) early and caused a scandal. Finally, before the World Cup, after an interview in which Ronaldo accused the club of “treason”, the break up and the contract was terminated. Ronaldo is allowed to look for a new club and is said to be about to move to Saudi Arabia.
At Portugal, however, Ronaldo is a very different person. Even before the game, the captain of the team was in a good mood on the bench despite his new role. And when it came to goals, too, he celebrated with his colleagues – and his representative Ramos – instead of sulking off the field.
Other players shine without the dominant Ronaldo
Ronaldo admits he has to break all individual records in his career, describing himself as the “perfect player“, because he “two-footed, strong in the air, fast and strongBut he also emphasizes that team success is his top priority, because that’s the only way individualists can shine – in the best case scenario.
Without Ronaldo on the field, all Portuguese offensive players actually managed to do that against Switzerland. The southern Europeans played very differently than in previous games, much more dynamic, much more variable, much more independent. It was obviously good for Joao Felix, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva and Co. that Ronaldo, the player who claims almost every pass for himself, was not on the pitch.
Manchester United more than doubled their points without Ronaldo
Incidentally, that was also the case in Manchester. Ronaldo was in the starting XI in four of 14 league games. United only picked up four points in those games, one point per game. If “CR7” was on the bench at the beginning or not part of the squad, the “Red Devils” got 2.2 points (22 in ten games).
Nevertheless, Santos continues to rely on Ronaldo – at least as the boss of the team. “There is no problem with the captain of the national team. We have been friends for many years. He is a paragon of a captain,” said the Portugal coach. And yet his team seems to benefit from the starting eleven degradation. Nevertheless, Ronaldo could be crowned World Cup bench champion at the end of his career.