Cristiano Ronaldo will not start the last 16 match against Switzerland. This comes on the heels of recent reports that Portugal coach Fernando Santos was not happy with Ronaldou2019s gestures after being subbed off against South Korea in their last group match. Pepe will captain the side.The 37-year-old striker became the first person to score in five different World Cups when he beat Ghana in the tournament’s first match. However, he struggled in Portugal’s final two group-stage matches and was replaced midway through a 2-1 loss to South Korea. Ronaldo left the game against Korea midway through the second half. He put his pointer finger to his lips as he left and afterwards claimed that Cho Gue-sung, the opposition striker, had irritated him by requesting him to leave more quickly.u201cWhat happened was before my substitution, the South Korea player told me to get off quickly. I told him to shut up as he doesnu2019t have that authority. There was no disagreement (with the coach),u201d Ronaldo was quoted as saying by Portuguese reporters. u201cYes, I did not like it, not at all. I really did not like it and from that moment on that issue is finished,u201d Santos had said when asked about his comments on the situation during a pre-match press conference on Monday.
Video Courtesy: ESPN UK
The head coach had also declined to respond to rumours circulating at home regarding whether Ronaldo will start against the Swiss on Tuesday, sit on the bench, or serve as captain.u201cI only decide who is going to be captain when I reach the stadium,u201d Santos said. u201cI still donu2019t know what the lineup will be. Thatu2019s what Iu2019ve always done and thatu2019s what Iu2019m always going to do and itu2019s going to be the same tomorrow. The other topic is solved. We have fixed that in-house and thatu2019s it.u201dWith Ronaldo, Portugal has advanced to the round of 16 of the World Cup in four of his five tournaments, but heu2019s never played in a World Cup final. Portugal in 2006 lost to France in the semifinals u2014 the deepest Ronaldo has ever reached at the World Cup. Although heu2019s scored in five tournaments, he has only eight total goals in 20 World Cup matches. His 118 goals in international play is a world record for men, but Ronaldo has never scored in the knockout stage of the World Cup.
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