2022 World Cup: Portugal 6 – 1 Switzerland – ‘A Seleção thrash Red Crosses without Ronaldo’

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The Selacao of Portugal booked their quarter final spot with a thumping and humiliating win over the Red Crosses of Switzerland on Tuesday night at the ongoing 2022 FIFA World Cup tournament in Qatar.

Goncalo Ramos netted a magnificent hat-trick after being named as Cristiano Ronaldo’s shock replacement to inspire Portugal to a 6-1 World Cup romp against Switzerland.

Portugal boss Fernando Santos sprung a huge surprise by leaving the leading goalscorer in history of international football on the bench. A 21-year-old making his first international start promptly stole the show.

Ramos violently crashed a 17th-minute shot into the top corner before a man 18 years his senior, veteran centre-back Pepe, become the second-oldest goalscorer at the World Cup behind Cameroon great Roger Milla.

There was nothing backwards looking or nostalgic about this Portugal side, though, as Ramos and Raphael Guerriero put the game to bed early in the second half.

After Manuel Akanji, one of Switzerland’s bedraggled defenders, pulled one back, Ramos secured the matchball and substitute Rafael Leao rifled home a show-stopping sixth.

Goals:

POR — Goncalo Ramos (Joao Felix) — 17th min.

POR — Pepe (Bruno Fernandes) — 33rd min.

POR — Goncalo Ramos (Diogo Dalot) — 51st min.

POR — Raphael Guerriero (Joao Felix) — 55th min.

SUI — Manuel Akanji (Joao Felix) — 58th min.

POR — Goncalo Ramos (Joao Felix) — 67th min.

POR — Rafael Leao (Raphael Guerriero) — 90th min+2.

Portugal lineup (4-3-2-1, right to left): 22. Diogo Costa (GK) — 2. Diogo Dalot, 3. Pepe, 4. Ruben Dias, 5. Raphael Guerriero — 10. Bernardo Silva, 25. Otavio, 14. William Carvalho — 8. Bruno Fernandes, 11. Joao Felix — 25. Goncalo Ramos.

Switzerland lineup (4-2-3-1): 1. Sommer (GK) — 2. Fernandes, 22. Schar, 4. Akanji, 13. Rodriguez — 10. Xhaka, 8. Freuler — 23. Shaqiri, 15. Sow, 17. Vargas — 7. Émbolo.

By: D. N. A. MENSAH, Daily Mail GH /Follow the writer @SkipperWrites on Twitter