Poll reveals Portugal fans are sick of Cristiano Ronaldo on eve of World Cup showdown
As Portugal prepares to face Switzerland in the round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, former Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo should be benched.
A recent poll conducted by A Bola found that 70% of readers wanted Fernando Santos to bench him for the match.
Although it was previously claimed by The Athletic that Ronaldo enjoyed a “god-like” status in his home country, it appears that the tables have turned in recent years.
His performances at the World Cup have been – quite frankly – terrible. Shockingly so to many Portugal watchers during the tournament.
In truth, however, Ronaldo is playing just like he did for Manchester United in the weeks preceding Qatar.
The 2022 Ronaldo is characterized by needless offsides, an inability to move away from opponents, and horrible mistakes on the rare occasions he does craft a chance for himself.
Remember, though, that he still takes a decent penalty, and that ability is responsible for the only goal he has scored in the tournament so far.
His influence on games has dwindled to the point where, had he been a different player, he would have been laughed off the team for expecting the rest of the team to take on the defensive duties he refuses to fulfill.
Even fewer people can seriously believe that Ronaldo is worth the problems he brings when the Portugal captain threw another in a long line of strops after being substituted against South Korea, a match in which he performed badly.
The depth of the Portuguese national team’s skill pool suggests that they may have advanced to the round of 16 without Ronaldo.
An exciting and dynamic attacking trio consisting of Rafael Leao, Joao Felix, Bruno Fernandes, and Bernardo Silva might take their team all the way to the championship game by pressing high and confusing opponents.
It’s unlikely that anyone will get to witness it in action for a complete match, especially not without the albatross of Fernando Santos’s insistence on playing Ronaldo.
Poll reveals Portugal fans are sick of Cristiano Ronaldo on eve of World Cup showdown
