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Who is Goncalo Ramos?
Born in Olhao, Portugal, Ramos is a striker for Benfica in Portugal’s top division, the Primeira Liga. He scored nine goals in eleven games and is the league leader. Twenty of Benfica’s 45 goals have come from his shots on target. Ramos emerged through Benfica’s youth system.
Ramos had never represented Portugal on the international scene before being selected for the squad for the FIFA World Cup in November. The only reason he was included in the team was that Liverpool striker Diogo Jota was injured. He made his debut for his country for the World Cup last month in a friendly against Nigeria.
Wearing shirt number 26 in the 26-man squad, Ramos saw limited action as a substitute in Portugal’s group stage wins over Ghana and Uruguay. In those matches he attempted 0 shots on target.
Ramos, who was named player of the match as Portugal destroyed Switzerland, commented: “Even in my wildest thoughts I didn’t believe I would be part of the starting team for the knockout stages.”
Why was Ronaldo on the bench?
After the match, Portuguese coach Fernando Santos commented that the decision to sideline Ronaldo for the deciding round of 16 matches against Switzerland was “strategic and nothing more”.
Even though Ronaldo has only scored once in Qatar, his heated reaction after his departure in the last group game against South Korea cannot be overlooked. After being taken out of the game by Santos, Ronaldo was observed to exude angry feelings.
Santos was asked about Ronaldo’s reaction to his substitution ahead of the game against Switzerland. I didn’t like it at all,” he proclaimed. It was not my taste at all. After the game against Switzerland, Santos praised Ronaldo, saying that the choice of player was made with the best interests of the team in mind.
I told you it was closed, and it is. We just have to think about this team as a whole, as Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the world’s best players and a leader,” he noted. Ronaldo came on as a substitute for Joao Felix in the 73rd minute. He played for a few minutes until he was eliminated.
Is he a regular starter for Portugal?
Ramos only played a total of 10 minutes in two matches during the group stage, making this his fourth appearance for the national team. He made his debut in a World Cup friendly against Nigeria on November 17.
He came on as a substitute in the 67th minute and scored the fourth goal 15 minutes later, leading his team to a 4–0 win.
Why was his call-up to the starting eleven controversial?
Portuguese coach Fernando Santos took a risk by putting 21-year-old Ramos over Ronaldo. Ramos has the talent to be successful, but it was a gamble. In just 17 minutes, Ramos repaid Santos’ confidence by scoring the winning goal in a round of 16 World Cup appearances, a feat Ronaldo had never accomplished before.
Joao Felix lightly tapped Ramos in the feet, and the latter immediately swerved past Fabian Schaer and Yann Sommer and fired a shot into the top corner of the net. Exactly six minutes into the second half, Ramos scored his second goal from close range from a Diogo Dalot cross on the right.
Assisted by Felix’s brilliant play up front, he finished off his hat-trick with a casual dink about Switzerland’s goalkeeper. Summer with one of his last hands before making way for Ronaldo.
What did he say?
He couldn’t believe it when Ramos was called up to play in place of five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo. “I never thought in a million years that I would start my first World Cup match in a knockout round and score three goals,” he added.
“However, we have to take everything game by game and be ready for our upcoming quarter-final against Morocco. This outcome is no longer relevant. When we play again, we will do our best.”
Why was Ronaldo dropped?
Ronaldo, now 37 years old and without a club after being sacked by Manchester United, is the center of attention at the tournament, despite clearly not being in top form.
Ronaldo, the only player to score in five World Cups, was on the bench for Santos’ match against Switzerland after reacting angrily after being taken off the game during the team’s 2-1 defeat to South Korea in their last group match. Replacing the Portuguese star against South Korea was “strategic and nothing more”, Santos stated afterwards.
What’s next for Ronaldo?
Ronaldo’s debut against Switzerland caused the biggest scream at Lusail Stadium, with fans chanting his name from the start of the second half. The referee determined that Ronaldo was offside when the ball appeared to have crossed the goal line.
Santos told reporters after the match that the role of the superstar striker for the remainder of the World Cup is something to be “defined” but that he will “definitely” be part of against Morocco. Despite being instrumental in winning Euro 2016, Ronaldo and Portugal have never won the World Cup.
Al Nassr, a Saudi Arabian club, reportedly offered Ronaldo, formerly of Real Madrid and Juventus, a tempting £200 million a year contract, which has sparked speculation about the player’s future in professional football.
Ronaldo has equaled Bader Al Mutawa’s FIFA recognized record of 196 international appearances and set a new world record with 118 goals scored for Portugal.
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