Portugal didn’t miss the benched Cristiano Ronaldo as they blasted previous a Swiss workforce caught in impartial.
Goncalo Ramos scored three targets as Portugal thrashed Switzerland 6-1 to arrange a quarter-final towards Morocco within the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Ramos, on the pitch instead of the benched Cristiano Ronaldo, delivered a hat-trick for the ages on Wednesday evening on the Lusail Iconic Stadium, because the old-timers of Portuguese soccer handed the baton to a youthful era.
Veteran Pepe, sporting the captain’s armband in Ronaldo’s absence, added to Ramos’ opener within the first half.
Ramos scored his second early within the second half. Raphael Guerreiro added a fourth earlier than the hour mark as Portugal began scoring for enjoyable. Then got here the third for Ramos, because the 21-year-old turned the primary participant to attain a hat-trick within the knock-out phases of World Cup since 1990.
There was a stability to this Portugal workforce with out the overbearing presence of their talismanic captain, who was dropped after he reacted angrily to being substituted towards South Korea within the group phases.
Soccer is a workforce recreation, and Portugal’s workforce all stepped as much as fill the Ronaldo-sized void.
Switzerland’s Manuel Akanji turned the ball in on the far publish from a fantastically weighted cross for a comfort purpose within the 56th minute – but it surely couldn’t herald a flip within the tide of the sport.
Joao Felix made manner for Ronaldo to an enormous ovation within the 72nd minute, profitable his 195th cap for Portugal. A spectacular effort from the veteran striker within the 82nd minute was dominated offside.
Rafael Leao, 23, introduced collectively a beautiful end within the 91st minute to go away Portugal going through Morocco within the quarter-finals on Saturday afternoon, earlier than England tackle France.
Extra to observe…
