Portugal coach Fernando Santos said he has “no regrets” about not starting Cristiano Ronaldo despite their World Cup exit to Morocco.
Ronaldo was introduced off the bench in the 51st minute with Portugal 1-0 down, but the 37-year-old couldn’t inspire a fight-back as Morocco became the first African side to reach a semifinal at the World Cup.
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Santos also named Ronaldo as a substitute for their 6-1 win over Switzerland in the round of 16 and said the result was enough to convince him to keep the same team for the quarterfinal.
“I don’t think so, no regrets,” Santos said. “I think this was a team which played very well against Switzerland. Cristiano Ronaldo is a great player, he came in when we thought it was necessary, so no regrets.
“If we take two persons that were the most upset it is Cristiano Ronaldo and myself. Of course we are upset, but that is part of the job of the coach and the player.”
Morocco won thanks to Sevilla striker Youssef En-Nesyri‘s first-half header when he outjumped Portugal keeper Diogo Costa to score a historic goal for his country.
Portugal only managed three shots on target as they went in search of an equaliser, and afterwards Bruno Fernandes was highly critical of Argentinian referee Facundo Tello.
