Even Without Ronaldo, 'Performance Explosion'... Portugal Crushes Switzerland 6-1

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[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] Portugal joined the quarterfinals of the 2022 FIFA Qatar World Cup last by scoring 6 goals against Switzerland.

On the 7th (Korean time), Portugal secured a resounding 6-1 victory over Switzerland in the Round of 16 match held at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, confirming their advancement to the quarterfinals for the first time in 16 years.

Portugal, which finished 4th in the 2006 Germany tournament, reached the Round of 16 in the 2010 South Africa and 2018 Russia tournaments but was eliminated in the group stage in the 2014 Brazil tournament. Portugal will face Morocco, who defeated Spain in a penalty shootout, in the quarterfinals.

Switzerland suffered a heavy defeat conceding 6 goals to Portugal, marking their third consecutive Round of 16 exit following the 2014 and 2018 tournaments. Switzerland’s best World Cup performance was reaching the quarterfinals in 1934, 1938, and 1954.

Earlier, after a 1-2 comeback loss to Korea in the third group stage match, Portugal started key players who rested in the Korea match, including Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), R?ben Dias (Manchester City), and Jo?o F?lix (Atl?tico Madrid). On the other hand, star player Cristiano Ronaldo (unattached) was excluded from the starting lineup. Young forward Gon?alo Ramos (Benfica) took the opportunity to start in his place.

This was the first time in 31 matches since the 2008 UEFA European Championship group stage third match against Switzerland that Ronaldo was excluded from the starting lineup in a major tournament. He had started all three group stage matches prior.

Ramos, who started instead of Ronaldo against Switzerland, showed his best form in the match by scoring a hat-trick. Ramos opened the scoring in the 17th minute of the first half with a left-footed turning shot inside the penalty area, shaking the Swiss net.

Then, in the 6th minute of the second half with the score at 2-0, Ramos connected a left-footed shot to a low cross from Diogo Dalot, scoring the third goal. In the 22nd minute of the second half, he scored his third goal by delicately lifting a right-footed shot over Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer (Borussia M?nchengladbach) in a one-on-one situation, becoming the first player to score a hat-trick in the Qatar World Cup.

With this hat-trick, Ramos became the youngest player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup knockout stage (single-elimination matches after the group stage) since Pel? (Brazil), who scored a hat-trick at age 18 in the 1958 Sweden World Cup semifinal against France.

Ramos, who assisted Portugal’s fourth goal that day, led the team to victory with 3 goals and 1 assist.

Ronaldo, who was excluded from the starting lineup and spent the first half on the bench, was substituted in for Jo?o F?lix in the 29th minute of the second half. Ronaldo’s free-kick shot in the 30th minute of the second half was blocked by the opposing defensive wall and did not result in a goal. In the 38th minute of the second half, he scored against Switzerland’s goal but was ruled offside, failing to add to the score.

Switzerland’s Manuel Akanji (Borussia Dortmund) scored a consolation goal in the 13th minute of the second half, but Portugal quickly scored two more goals, ending the match 6-1.

With Portugal securing the last quarterfinal ticket in the final Round of 16 match against Switzerland, the Qatar World Cup has now entered the quarterfinal stage.

The quarterfinalists will have two days of rest before starting the quarterfinals on the 10th (Korean time) at midnight with Croatia vs. Brazil, and at 4 a.m. with the Netherlands vs. Argentina. On the 11th at midnight, Morocco will face Portugal, and at 4 a.m., England and France will compete for a spot in the semifinals.