The head coach of the Portuguese national football team Fernando Santos explained that the absence of team captain Cristiano Ronaldo in the starting lineup of the national team in the round of 16 match of the 2022 World Cup with the Swiss team was a tactical decision. Santos announced this on December 6.
“It was a strategic variation that we were already preparing a few days ago for this game, with different moves. A strategic option, nothing more, he is an exemplary professional, and if he has to go to the game, it will help Portugal a lot, ”the newspaper quotes the coach of the Portuguese national team. record.
As a result, the Portuguese national team defeated the team from Switzerland with a score of 6: 1 in the 1/8 final match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Cristiano Ronaldo, 37, was not included in Portugal’s starting lineup for the first time since 2008. Instead, 21-year-old Goncalo Ramos entered the field.
The last match that Cristiano started on the bench was also with Switzerland – in the group stage of the European Championship. So far, Ronaldo has started 31 consecutive World Cup and Euro matches.
Earlier, on December 5, the Brazilian national team beat the team from South Korea and reached the quarterfinals of the world championship. Her next opponent will be the Croatian national team. The meeting will take place on December 9th.
Also on December 5, Croatia defeated the Japanese national team in the 1/8 final match of the World Cup in Qatar.
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