Goncalo Ramos dazzles the soccer world in debut for Portugal

Football

Published 06.12.2022

Goncalo Ramos dazzles the soccer world in debut for Portugal

LUSAIL, Qatar (AP) — In his first begin for Portugal’s nationwide workforce, Gonçalo Ramos confirmed that he has the products — and the objectives — to face in for Cristiano Ronaldo.

Even on the World Cup.

The 21-year-old ahead scored a hat trick Tuesday after surprisingly being referred to as on to start out towards Switzerland instead of Ronaldo, the lads’s report holder for many worldwide objectives. Portugal received the match 6-1 and superior to the quarterfinals for the third time.

“Not even in my wildest dreams did I think about being part of the starting team for the knockout stage,” Ramos stated by way of a translator after being named participant of the match.

Those three objectives, and the smoking pistols purpose celebration, immediately made Ramos one of many sport’s hottest prospects.

Morocco, which can subsequent play Portugal on Saturday for a spot within the semifinals, might not have identified something about Ramos earlier than Tuesday. That has actually modified.

Ramos had by no means performed for Portugal earlier than being chosen within the World Cup squad final month. He was given the No. 26 shirt within the 26-man squad and performed for just a few minutes as a late substitute in Portugal’s group wins over Ghana and Uruguay. He had zero makes an attempt on purpose in these video games.

“Most people in the world had never heard about him until today,” Portugal midfielder Bruno Fernandes stated.

The first trace that Ronaldo’s place is perhaps in danger got here Monday. Portugal coach Fernando Santos vented his frustration along with his long-time star’s physique language after being changed in a 2-1 loss to South Korea on Friday.

Sure sufficient, 80 minutes earlier than the beginning of the match at Lusail Stadium, Ronaldo’s identify was lacking from the beginning lineup. Ramos was his alternative.

The last outcome made Santos look extra like a mad genius than a madman.

Ramos scored early, giving his workforce the lead within the seventeenth minute. Passes then began flowing, assaults got here in waves and consumed the Swiss opposition, leaving them seemingly unable to trace the pace and mobility of playmakers like Fernandes, João Félix and Bernardo Silva.

Ramos was on the heart of all of it.

“Gonçalo is more dynamic,” Santos stated by way of a translator. “Cristiano currently is a player who is more fixed and plays in a more determined area.”

Ramos linked simply with a gaggle of teammates he has barely performed with, ghosting in on the close to put up to poke the ball in from shut vary for his second purpose, and the workforce’s third, quickly after halftime.

He created the fourth purpose with a move to Raphael Guerreiro after which accomplished his hat trick with a deft flick over onrushing Switzerland goalkeeper Yann Sommer within the 67th minute.

Seven minutes later, Ronaldo got here off the bench and changed Ramos on the sector.

They subsequent met within the heart circle after the ultimate whistle, the established star hugging his potential successor. Ramos was holding the match ball, the standard reward for a participant who scores three objectives.

The first hat trick at this 12 months’s World Cup was solely the fifth previously three tournaments. One of these got here from Ronaldo 4 years in the past, when he was 33, in a 3-3 group-stage draw with Spain.

When Ramos returns to play for Benfica within the Portuguese league, he’ll not be underneath anyone’s radar.

Yet clues had been there when the younger ahead stepped up a stage this season to interchange Darwin Núñez, now at Liverpool after one other big-money sale by the Lisbon membership. Led by objectives from Ramos, Benfica is unbeaten each in Portugal and within the Champions League.

“It’s because people are not aware of the quality in the Portuguese league,” Fernandes stated. “I think people should be aware of Gonçalo and his qualities.”