Portugal-Switzerland: Seleccao smashes Nati to reach quarters

PORTUGAL – SWITZERLAND: PORTUGAL SINK THE NATI AND ADVANCE TO THE QUARTERS

We will have seen CR7 start on the bench for the first time in a long time. Portugal won with the manner against the Swiss for this 8th final (6-1). Initially puzzled by Fernando Santos’ choice to field Gonçalo Ramos in place of the five-time golden ball winner, soccer fans were quickly reassured by the 21-year-old striker. The Portuguese literally flew over the game by scoring a hat-trick.

A COMPLICATED FIRST PERIOD FOR THE NATIONAL…

The game had started well for both teams, with commitment and a small observation phase. However, the game quickly turned in favor of the Portuguese. Indeed, in the 17th minute of the game, the young Gonçalo Ramos scored the first goal of the game. Placed on the left side of the box, he unleashes a sumptuous left-footed shot, which comes in at an almost unattainable angle in the top corner.

This prompted Switzerland to react, unfortunately without success. The Nati men took advantage of a long-range free kick from Xherdan Shaqiri to briefly trouble the Portuguese keeper. Otherwise, we could see a Swiss team in pain, which unfortunately did not exist in this game. And the blow inflicted by Pepe in the 33rd minute did not help to improve things. From a well struck corner on the right side, the defender put in an unstoppable header to become the oldest scorer in the World Cup finals.

PORTUGAL UNFOLDS IN THE SECOND HALF

At the end of the second half, we still notice a great control of the Portuguese in the game. Bruno Fernandes even became the most decisive player of Portugal on a World Cup. The last people to achieve these feats were Eusebio and Jose Torres in 1966, more than 56 years ago! In the 51st minute, Gonçalo Ramos did it again and made it 3-0 in favor of the Seleccao. The Swiss hopes are extinguished and Portugal has free rein to play its soccer.

Four minutes later, Raphaël Guerreiro invited himself to the party and scored the 4th goal of Portugal in this match. After a nice deflection from Joao Felix in midfield, the Portuguese left-back went to the goal and finished with a nice left-footed shot out of reach of the goalkeeper. It is now 4-0 for the Portuguese after 56 minutes of play… Switzerland did not let go and manages to save the honor through Manuel Akanji. From a well struck corner on the right, the defender managed to get a good header past the Portuguese keeper to reduce the gap.

But the Portuguese were on fire during this meeting and did not stop multiplying the dangerous situations. And it is in the 67th minute that the young Portuguese striker of 21 years old manages to place a small ball of beauty, after having been launched in depth by Joao Felix (5-1, 67th). And as if that wasn’t enough, Rafael Leao closed the score at the very end of the match with a wonderful curved right-footed shot (6-1, 90th+2).

RECORDS EQUALED…

This evening was the occasion to break some records on the Portuguese side. Indeed, we saw Pepe become the oldest scorer in the World Cup finals. At the same time, the young striker Gonçalo Ramos made a very strong impression. With his hat-trick, he became the first player to score a hat-trick on his first start at a World Cup. The last person to do so was a certain Miroslav Klose.

Thanks to these great performances, collective and individual, Portugal inflicts a severe correction to the Nati. The Portuguese players will face Morocco, winner of Spain in penalty kicks (3-0), next Saturday, December 10 at 4 pm.