On Monday, Portugal manager Fernando Santos wouldn’t reveal whether or not captain Cristiano Ronaldo would start against Switzerland. Just before the game, Portugal’s team sheet was revealed, and Santos made his decision.
Ronaldo will be starting on the bench for Portugal’s round of 16 match. This comes after Ronaldo negatively reacted to being subbed out of their final group stage match against South Korea. Ronaldo seemed to say, “He’s in a rush to sub me,” referring to Santos, while Santos said in his pregame press conference after seeing what happened, “I didn’t like it. Didn’t like it at all.”
While this is a big deal that Portugal’s star player is on the bench for a crucial knockout stage game, this may or may not be because of what happened against South Korea. Sure, it’s the first knockout stage game Ronaldo hasn’t started for Portugal since the Euro 2000 semifinal, but Ronaldo is 37, and he’s probably not going 120 minutes. There’s a good chance he’s not going the full 90, much less 120 and penalties. But that’s a potential strategy that has nothing to do with the South Korea sub.
Now, if Portugal is tied or behind and it’s the 70th minute and Ronaldo isn’t on the pitch, then it’s about the South Korea match.
The news of Ronaldo’s benching sent shockwaves throughout the soccer world.
BREAKING NEWS…Ronaldo has stormed off after being named on the bench for Portugal pic.twitter.com/ox4P0CkZkb
— ⚽️442oons⚽️ (@442oons) December 6, 2022
Ronaldo benched against Switzerland pic.twitter.com/0sEd9xGuBw
— Troll Football (@TrollFootball) December 6, 2022
If Portugal wins today – Ronaldo fans will say he was rested for Quarterfinals
If Portugal Loses today – Ronaldo fans will say they lost because they benched him pic.twitter.com/73M43GkAux
— 𝙈𝙓 6 🕊️ (@MagicalXavi) December 6, 2022
Ronaldo can protest all he wants but the reality is that managers for club and country now reckon their teams are better off without him. He reckons he can still play elite CL football but the only club keen on him at the moment is Al Nassr
— Alex Shaw (@AlexShawTel) December 6, 2022
Ronaldo benched for Portugal.
Does this mean we have to go through another Piers interview?
— Andy (@LetsTalk_FPL) December 6, 2022
Season 2 is arriving… pic.twitter.com/Wpki3HuNG1
— Context Ronaldo (@ContextRonaldo) December 6, 2022
The winner of Portugal-Switzerland will face Morocco in the quarterfinal.
