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He’d come off the bench in a 6-1 victory over
Ronaldo congratulated
But as the rest of the squad made had their moment of fan appreciation, Ronaldo left his teammates behind and walked off alone through the tunnel.
Ronaldo breezed through the post-match interview area with a huge grin on his face, only responding to one question: Was he happy?
“Of course, of course,” the superstar grinned. “Portugal won.”
Really?
Santos said the decision was tactical and not disciplinary, but he'd acknowledged Monday he was bothered by Ronaldo's poor attitude after he pulled him late in a 2-1 loss to
“I think those issues have been solved. I said that in my last press conference and I repeat myself: This is something which is finished, solved," Santos said. "I have a very close relationship with (Ronaldo). I have known him since he was 19 years old in Sporting.
“I think Ronaldo and I never misinterpret the human and personal aspect with that of manager and player, and what we need to do during the match,” the coach added. “That is what we will do. I will always consider he is a very important player to have in the team.”
Santos instead started Ramos, a little-known forward who made his international debut three weeks ago. Ramos' first career start for his national team came as Ronaldo’s replacement and he scored on just his fourth touch of the game in the 17th minute to give
Santos added goals in the 51st — a goal Ronaldo celebrated as he warmed up on the sidelines with the rest of the substitutes — and again in the 67th.
“We won the first two games with Cristiano in the first 11, and it could be that if Cristiano played, he could score three goals and no one would be speaking about Cristiano being on the bench,” Fernandes said. "Cristiano is doing his job, he's doing his part, he's happy with the result because the goal for everyone is to go as far as possible.
“I don't think people should be talking about Cristiano and why he's not playing, because when Cristiano plays and the team wins, no one talks about that,” Fernandes continued. “When Cristiano plays and the team loses, everyone talks.”
Fernandes called Ronaldo “the most famous player in the world. No one is more famous than Cristiano in sports, not in football, in sports.” But when Fernandes was asked about Ramos' reaction to getting the start, he defensively turned the question toward Ronaldo.
“Do you think anyone likes to be on the bench?" Fernando said. “I don't think Cristiano would be happy. If the manager put me on the bench in the next game, I would be angry.”
The match marked the first time Ronaldo didn’t lead his teammates onto the field as the captain in
By the time
Ronaldo, wearing a yellow substitute bib in the dugout, was expressionless as the crowd called for him. When he was finally sent onto the field in the 72nd, the crowd erupted. Pepe wrapped the captain's armband on Ronaldo's bicep before Ronaldo jogged onto the field.
This is expected to be Ronaldo's final
Ramos, who has 21 goals this year for Portuguese club Benfica, made his debut for
Ronaldo opened the tournament with a goal against
Ronaldo cut ties with
It’s not unprecedented for Ronaldo to get less playing time, because the aging superstar has faded of late. He barely played in the
With Ronaldo,
Although he’s scored in five tournaments, he has only eight goals in 20
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