Portugal’s all-time top scorer with 118 goals in 195 appearances, Ronaldo was benched for Tuesday’s 6-1 win over Switzerland in the last 16 where 21-year-old Goncalo Ramos scored three goals in only his fourth appearance.
Ronaldo stormed onto the pitch after the final whistle crying profusely while being comforted by his teammates.
“I don’t regret (leaving Ronaldo on the bench),” coach Santos told a press conference on Saturday. “It wouldn’t change anything, in terms of the team, I can’t think with my heart.
“I used the team that played very well against Switzerland and there was no reason to change it (against Morocco). The strategic decision I had to make was one of the most difficult , but I can’t think with my heart, I have to think with my head.
“It’s not that Ronaldo isn’t a great player anymore. It has nothing to do with it.”
Morocco’s Atlas Lions extended their dream run and entered the history books by becoming the first African and Arab country to reach the tournament’s last four thanks to a first-half goal from Youssef En-Nesyri. time.
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— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) 1670692336000
Santos declined to say whether he would step down and said he would speak to the Portuguese FA president over the next week about his future.
He said his team struggled to find spaces between the disciplined Moroccan defensive lines, and he praised their opponents for their efforts, saying it was “quite their credit”.
“Sometimes in football what you need is a bit of luck,” Santos said.
“We showed effort and quality, had several chances to score with Joao Felix, and Bruno Fernandes hit the bar, Pepe had a header at the end that could have been the equaliser… He was missing a little bit of luck.”
