QATAR 2022 WORLD CUP: Portugal thrash Switzerland 6-1 in last 16 as Goncalo Ramos nets first hat-trick of World Cup 2022
By Samson Adeyemo
Spectators witnessed rains of goals in the last match of the last 16, from Portugal despite dropping captain Cristiano Ronaldo as his replacement Goncalo Ramos scored a hilarious hat-trick in a humiliating 6-1 win over Switzerland.
The breakout of Ronaldo’s reaction to his substitution in Portugal’s previous game sends a message to the manager about his discomfort but this time around, he is not in the starting eleven and his absence wasn’t felt.
Raphael Guerreiro, Pepe and Rafael Leao also recorded their goal in the score sheet for Portugal as they reached the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2006.
Portugal’s manager Fernando Santos addressed the situation surrounding Ronaldo, and his response to been substituted in their previous game, after the superb win, saying: “What I think is most important is to stop this a little bit. It’s not easy to be in the middle of the World Cup, and realise people are not very happy. We have to deal with it.
He said, “I think those issues have been solved. I will always consider my role that he is a very important player to have in the team.”
Portugal will now face Morocco in the quarter-finals on Saturday, kick-off 3pm. The winner of that game will play either England or France in the World Cup semi-finals.
