Bernardo Silva spotted not celebrating Portugal’s World Cup as an intelligent reasoning emerge
Bernardo Silva was conspicuously absent from his Portugal teammates’ celebration of Goncalo Ramos’ opening goal against Switzerland.
It appears the Manchester City star employed a brilliant strategy to prevent his team from surrendering an equalizer soon.
Silva started in midfield for the Seleço in Tuesday’s round-of-16 match against Switzerland, which Portugal went on to win handily.
Ramos, who had replaced the benched Cristiano Ronaldo up front, opened the goal. After receiving a pass from Joao Felix within the penalty area, the Benfica star unleashed a spectacular shot high inside the near post.
The rest of his teammates instantly flocked to him in the corner, where he began to rejoice. Silva initially joined them before soon returning to the field, but remaining in Switzerland’s half.
Spectators instantly realized why Silva had withdrawn from the celebrations. In addition, they disclosed that his actions may have prevented his team from surrendering a goal.
One wrote: “Bernardo Silva too smart. Quickly got back onto the pitch during the celebrations, so the game couldn’t restart.” Another added: “Bernardo Silva playing 5D chess and running back onto the pitch so the Swiss can’t restart quickly too.”
A third concluded: “Notice Bernando Silva staying alive during the celebrations, running back on to the pitch. Elite mentality.”
The kick-offs governed by Law 8 of the Laws of the Game appear to support the argument that Silva saved his team. The statute specifies: “After a team scores a goal, the kick-off is taken by their opponents.
“For every kick-off all players, except the player taking the kick off, must be in their own half of the field of play, the opponents of the team taking the kick-off must be at least 9.15 m (10 yds) from the ball until it is in play, the ball must be stationary on the centre mark, the referee gives a signal, the ball is in play when it is kicked and clearly moves.”
With the rest of Silva’s teammates off the field and goalie Diogo Costa on Portugal’s half of the field, Switzerland may have been allowed to kick off.
However, players off the field do not considered as being in their own half, therefore Silva might have participated in the celebrations. However, he was not left out, as Portugal scored five more goals to advance to the quarterfinals.
In a 6-1 victory, Ramos scored a hat trick, while Pepe, Raphael Guerreiro, and Rafael Leao also found the back of the net. Portugal will face Morocco in the quarterfinals as they attempt to reach the World Cup semifinals for the first time since 2006.
Bernardo Silva spotted not celebrating Portugal’s World Cup as an intelligent reasoning emerge
