Portugal midfielder Bruno Fernandes has hinted Cristiano Ronaldo was sad to be dropped from the beginning XI for Tuesday night time’s World Cup final 16 thrashing of Switzerland however insists that type of response could be regular for any participant.
With his membership profession up within the air following an acrimonious departure from Manchester United in November, Ronaldo has struggled to search out type at this World Cup.
As he chase’s Portugal’s all-time World Cup aim document held by the late Eusebio since 1966, Ronaldo’s solely strike thus far got here from the penalty spot within the opening recreation towards Ghana.
He has performed fewer and fewer minutes with every passing Portugal and was ignored of the lineup by coach Fernando Santos for the Switzerland recreation. In his absence, 21-year-old alternative Goncalo Ramos scored a hat-trick on his first ever worldwide begin, doubtlessly making it powerful for Santos to now return to Ronaldo as Portugal progress via the rounds.
“Do you think anyone likes to be on the bench? I don’t think Cristiano would be happy,” Fernandes instructed reporters after the final 16 recreation.
“If the manager puts me on the bench in the next game, I would be angry.”
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In his fifth World Cup event, Ronaldo has confronted criticism for his obvious willpower to equal and surpass Eusebio’s World Cup tally of 9 – all scored within the 1966 finals – even doggedly claiming a aim scored by Fernandes till it was conclusively confirmed he didn’t contact the ball.
“Cristiano is doing his job, he’s doing his part, he’s happy with the result because the goal for everyone is to go as far as possible,” Fernandes went on to say.
In the quarter-finals on Friday, Portugal will face a Morocco facet that completed prime of Group F forward of Croatia and Belgium and has already eradicated Spain within the knockout levels.
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