Goncalo Ramos scored a hat-trick in an impressive 6-1 win over Switzerland in the World Cup last 16 despite Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence on the field.
Ronaldo didn’t start a game for Portugal at a major tournament for the first time since 2008 (also against Switzerland), ending a 31-game streak. He was benched.
The fallout of Ronaldo’s reaction to his substitution in Portugal’s previous game dominated the build-up to the knock-out clash.
His countrymen shook off any drama around his absence with one of the performances of the tournament so far as Portugal reached the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2006, where Spain’s conquerors Morocco await.
Ramos, his replacement, was five years old when Ronaldo scored his first World Cup goal and needed only 17 minutes to open his own account with a thunderous effort that was past Yann Sommer before he could react.
Portugal cemented their advantage before the interval when 39-year-old Pepe became the second-oldest scorer in World Cup history from a corner before Ramos ended the game as a contest with a poacher’s finish at the near post.
Both sides could have added to the scoreline before half-time, but six minutes after the restart, the game did have its third goal when the again impressive Diogo Dalot’s powerful low cross was turned through Sommer’s legs by Ramos.
Three soon became four as Switzerland’s heads dropped, and Edmilson Fernandes’ lax defending allowed Guerreiro a free run forward to meet Ramos’ pass and fire into the roof of the net.
Akanji’s close-range finish at least got Switzerland on the scoresheet but they were back to picking the ball out of their own net within nine minutes, as Ramos’ delicate dink beat Sommer and earned him the match ball.
Ronaldo was finally introduced from the bench shortly after and though Portugal did add a sixth it was another youngster on the scoresheet rather than their elder statesman, with Rafael Leao curling exquisitely into the corner in added time.
Portugal manager Fernando Santos addressed the situation surrounding Ronaldo, and his response to coming off in their previous game, after the emphatic 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.
“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.”
Switzerland manager Murat Yakin: “[A back three] wasn’t a big change. We did partially also play with a four-man backline. We noticed our plan wasn’t working, and we probably missed a few challenges where we should have done more, challenged the opponent more and been more dominant in our play.
“But we have to admit they were better, faster and more offensive. Our game plan didn’t work, and we have to accept that. I congratulate Portugal on this win and we have to just take it.
“Defeat is painful, we are sad about the way we played and the result. We wanted to make the country happy, we didn’t achieve that today.
“We lost a game today. That doesn’t mean we have to be too pessimistic and criticise everything. The team has shown great spirit, they had great plans for today, and wanted to pick up where we left off [against Serbia].
“Today we have to accept Portugal were better. I think it’s something we have to put behind us now, we will get through it as a team and look forward.”