Doha:
The knockout rounds of the World Cup football tournament are underway. In the recently concluded match, the Portuguese team defeated the Swiss team and advanced to the quarter-finals. In this match, the captain of the Portuguese team and the great player known as the goal machine, Cristiano Ronaldo (age 37), was not fielded. He was brought on as a last minute substitute.
When the match against Switzerland started, he reportedly threatened to quit the national team. It was also said that this was revealed during a conversation with head coach Fernando Santos. This issue has created a stir in the team.
The Portuguese Football Federation gave an explanation about this. It said, “Captain Cristiano Ronaldo is not threatening to quit the national team anytime soon in Qatar. He is creating a unique record every day for the national team and the country. This should be respected.”
In this case, head coach Fernando Santos met the press. In response to questions about Ronaldo, he said:-
On the day of the match against Switzerland, I called Ronaldo to my office after lunch. He was not satisfied with my decision as he always jumped in early.
Do you think this is a good idea? He asked me. The conversation was casual. I explained my views. He accepted it. We talked openly and casually. Then he never told me that he wanted to leave the national team.
He decided to encourage his teammates. And he celebrated all the goals we scored. At the end, he called his teammates to thank the fans. Leave him alone. It is time to set him free. In every press conference, 90 percent of the questions are about him.
This is what he said.
In the match against Switzerland, Portugal won 6-1 without Ronaldo. Striker Goncalo Ramos (21), who came in place of Ronaldo, scored a hat-trick.
However, he said the door is open for Ronaldo in today’s quarter-final match against Morocco. He also mentioned that it will be a different game. Coach Santos also said that any player is not happy when he is out as a substitute without being brought on the field.