The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) rejected this Thursday that Cristiano Ronaldo has threatened to leave the concentration of the team, which is playing in the Qatar 2022 World Cup, and praised the “undeniable degree of commitment” of the captain.
“A piece of news released this Thursday reports that Cristiano Ronaldo threatened to leave the team during a conversation with Fernando Santos, the national coach. The FPF clarifies that at no time did the captain of the team, Cristiano Ronaldo, threaten to leave the team. national team during the internship in Qatar,” says the statement published on the organization’s official Internet site.
In the same note, the FPF highlights the “unique story” that the 37-year-old Portuguese forward has built at the service of the ‘quinas’ and representing the country, stressing that it “must be respected” and that attests to the undoubted degree commitment to the selection.
“By the way, the degree of dedication of the player most internationalized by Portugal was once again demonstrated -if necessary- in the victory against Switzerland, in the round of 16 of the 2022 World Cup. The selection – players, coaches and structure of the FPF – is , from the first day, totally committed and enthusiastic in building what the country wants to be the best participation of Portugal in a World Cup”, concludes the FPF statement.
Portugal secured qualification for the 2022 World Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday by beating Switzerland 6-1, with three goals from Gonçalo Ramos, one from Pepe, one from Raphaël Guerreiro and another from Rafael Leão, while Akanji reduced for the Swiss . .
After having started all three group stage matches, having scored one goal, from a penalty, in his debut against Ghana (3-2), Cristiano Ronaldo was a substitute against the Swiss, entering the second half.
Furthermore, in the 81 games in which he has been used by Fernando Santos since he took over as manager (since October 2014), this was only the fourth time that Ronaldo was a substitute.
In the quarterfinals, Portugal will face Morocco, which eliminated Spain, in a match scheduled for Saturday, starting at 6:00 p.m. local time (3:00 p.m. in Lisbon), at the Al Thumama Stadium, in Doha.
Source: TSF
