Portugal coach Fernando Santos says his decision to leave Cristiano Ronaldo out of his team for the 6-1 triumph over Switzerland in the World Cup last 16 had been “strategic and nothing more”.
It comes as Portugal’s hat-trick hero Goncalo Ramos said he had not even dreamt of starting a World Cup knockout match, let alone scoring three, in his first start in the tournament.
The 21-year-old striker was handed a surprise start ahead of five-times Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo and rewarded coach Santos with a brilliant match-winning display.
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Santos had expressed his unhappiness with Ronaldo’s reaction to being suspended in the final group stage game against South Korea, but he said that matter had no impact.
“I said that it was closed and it was closed. Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the best players in the world playing professionally and as a captain … so we have to just think about this team collectively,” he said.
Asked whether it was the most difficult decision of his career to leave out Ronaldo, Santos said: “I have a very close relationship I always have, known him since he was 19 at Sporting, and then for years here in the national squad.
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“Ronaldo and I never confuse the human and personal aspect with the coach and player relationship. He is a very important player to have in the team.”
Ramos was only two years old when Ronaldo made his debut for Portugal and has often spoken of his admiration for the 37-year-old.
The man of the match at the Lusail Stadium was asked how the dressing room – and Ronaldo – had reacted to the surprise team selection from Santos.
“Honestly no one in the team talked about it. Cristiano, as captain, did what he does, he helped, he talked to us, not only to myself but to my teammates,” Ramos said.
“Cristiano Ronaldo has always been a role model, he is an idol for many. I also like (Robert) Lewandowski and (Zlatan) Ibrahimovic.”
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Ramos was only making his fourth appearance for the national side, having played 10 minutes across two games in the group stage.
He only made his debut on November 17 in a pre-World Cup friendly against Nigeria, coming on as a 67th minute substitute and promptly scoring 15 minutes later with the fourth goal in a 4-0 win.
“Not even in my wildest dreams did I think of making my first start in a World Cup knockout game and scoring three goals,” Ramos said.
Born in Algarve, the forward has burst onto the scene with Benfica this season after being given an enhanced role as the central striker following the sale of Darwin Nunez to Liverpool.
He has scored 14 goals in 21 games in all competitions, quickly adjusting to his new role.
“My favourite position is forward, but last year I was asked to play in support of Darwin. It’s clear that with his departure a space opened up for me. It’s great to now have the role that I love the most,” he said in a recent interview.
Should he continue his impressive impact on this Portugal side in the quarter-final against Morocco he would surely find himself a target of the same kind of big money approach that saw Nunez leave.
But for now, his thoughts are purely on contributing to Santos’ increasingly impressive side and he isn’t even taking his starting role for granted.
“That is something that doesn’t concern me. I always work to the fullest and hopefully that is evident,” he said.
Santos said he expected a “very difficult” game against Morocco in the quarter-finals but said his team were clearly in good form.
“If we can continue like this and improve some things then that is a good path,” he added.
— AFP
