Cristiano Ronaldo‘s quest to win a FIFA World Cup resulted in tears on Saturday after Portugal’s gorgeous 1-0 loss to Morocco. Morocco thus turned the primary African staff to make it to the semi-final of the World Cup and Ronaldo got here solely as a second half substitute.
Ronaldo had been benched for Portugal’s spherical of 16 match in opposition to Switzerland as effectively. While Portugal ended up successful that recreation 6-1, they may not discover a well past the staunch Moroccan defence regardless of hitting them with multiples waves of assaults for a lot of the second half. Morocco have been dealt additional blows within the type of their captain and ace centre again Roman Saiss being stretchered off with an damage and taking place to 10 males in stoppage time.
Former Portugal captain Luis Figo, who used to put on the quantity 7 shirt earlier than Ronaldo, has slammed head coach Fernando Santos for not together with the previous Real Madrid ahead within the beginning XI. “You can’t win a Football World Cup with Ronaldo on the bench. Alright you won against Switzerland? Great result! But can you do this every game? No. Leaving Ronaldo out was a mistake, this loss is on the team management and the manager,” stated Figo on Sports18.
The Qatar World Cup is broadly anticipated to be the 38-year-old Ronaldo’s final look within the match and even his ultimate look in a Portugal shirt. Saturday’s quarter-final was Ronaldo’s 196th look for the nationwide staff, making him the joint most capped participant within the historical past of worldwide soccer. Ronaldo was in tears as he made his strategy to the locker room following Portugal’s 1-0 loss to Morocco within the World Cup quarterfinals on Saturday.
Reaching the quarterfinals was the minimal anticipated of Portugal contemplating the depth of expertise in its squad. The staff sailed via the group part by successful its opening two video games. Coach Fernando Santos rotated most of his beginning lineup for the ultimate group-stage match in opposition to South Korea, which gained 2-1 on a late aim, after which thrashed Switzerland 6-1 within the spherical of 16. Despite Morocco’s sturdy protection and standing because the shock of the match, Portugal was nonetheless anticipated to beat the North African nation within the quarterfinals so, in that sense, it’s one other missed alternative and doubtless an general underperformance by Ronaldo and his staff.