Goncalo Ramos (C) of Portugal scores a goal during the World Cup match with Switzerland at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, December 6, 2022. /CFP
Goncalo Ramos (C) of Portugal scores a goal during the World Cup match with Switzerland at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, December 6, 2022. /CFP
Portugal's Goncalo Ramos rose to the occasion on his first World Cup start to net a hat-trick in a 6-1 demolition of Switzerland on Tuesday, sending his side through to the quarterfinals for the first time in 16 years and setting up a clash with Morocco.
Portugal coach Fernando Santos had benched the country's all-time top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo, tasking Benfica forward Ramos with leading the line despite the 21-year-old making his debut just three days before the World Cup in a friendly match.
Ramos had played only 10 minutes as a substitute in Qatar, but the youngster looked like he belonged on the big stage with a memorable performance for Portugal. Ronaldo was a late substitute who had a goal ruled out for offside.
"Cristiano Ronaldo talks to me and everyone in the team. He's our leader and always tries to help," Ramos said after netting the first hat-trick of the tournament.
"I don't know if I will start the next game, that's up to the coach, I have to work as hard as I can and then we'll see."
Achraf Hakimi (L) of Morocco scores the team's fourth and winning penalty past goalkeeper Unai Simon of Spain in the penalty shoot-out during their World Cup match at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, December 6, 2022. /CFP
Achraf Hakimi (L) of Morocco scores the team's fourth and winning penalty past goalkeeper Unai Simon of Spain in the penalty shoot-out during their World Cup match at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, December 6, 2022. /CFP
Achraf Hakimi struck the decisive penalty to send Spain crashing out and Morocco into the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time, winning 3-0 in a shoot-out on Tuesday after a 0-0 draw.
Spain coach Luis Enrique had claimed his players prepared by taking 1,000 penalties as homework but Pablo Sarabia, Carlos Soler and Sergio Busquets all missed from the spot and Madrid-born Hakimi dinked his home to the delight of Morocco's raucous support.
Spain had been hoping they could repeat their 2010 World Cup triumph after reaching the semi-finals of Euro 2020, where they were also beaten on penalties by Italy.
The teams were closely matched through a nail-biting clash, with Spain having more of the ball but Morocco creating the better openings.
Luis Enrique trialed his third right-back of the tournament in Marcos Llorente, and benched the team's top scorer Alvaro Morata for Marco Asensio, after the shock defeat by Japan.
(With input from agencies)