Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence was a notable feature of Portugal’s 2-1 victory over Norway in the UEFA Nations League, with the captain remaining on the bench for the entire match for the first time since September 2024. His absence raised several questions, prompting Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus to explain the reasoning behind the decision.
اضافة اعلان
Jesus said in comments reported by TNT Sports that leaving the 41-year-old Ronaldo on the bench was not due to fatigue or a lack of fitness but was purely a tactical decision dictated by the course of the match.
The coach explained that he had previously agreed with Ronaldo that he would bring him on during the latter half of the final hour of the match. However, the impressive performance of striker Gonçalo Ramos, who started the game and scored the winning goal, led Jesus to abandon the planned substitution. He added that the final stages of the match required players with different characteristics to maintain defensive balance and secure all three points against Norway’s pressure.
Match Events and Ramos’ Impressive Performance
The match began with Norway applying pressure, but Portugal took an early lead in the 17th minute through a well-placed shot by João Félix from the edge of the penalty area. Despite saves from goalkeeper Diogo Costa and defender Rúben Dias to deny Norway star Erling Haaland in the first half, Haaland equalized with a header early in the second half, scoring his 65th international goal in 57 appearances.
Norway’s celebration did not last long, as Gonçalo Ramos immediately capitalized on a major mistake by Norwegian goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland to restore Portugal’s lead. Ramos nearly added a third, but the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) ruled out the goal for offside. His performance ultimately convinced Jesus to keep him on the pitch until the final whistle.
Attention Turns to Denmark
With Ronaldo needing just 21 goals to reach the historic milestone of 1,000 career goals, Jesus reassured fans that the “Don” remains an important part of his plans, stressing that his chances of playing are equal to those of his teammates and depend on the team’s needs.
In this context, the coach hinted that Cristiano could return to the starting lineup for the upcoming match against Denmark on October 1, before the much-anticipated meeting with Norway later on.
The comments appear aimed at easing the reaction to Ronaldo being left on the bench, an unusual occurrence that has not happened in an official Portugal match for 18 years. The last time the “Don” failed to play any part in a competitive match was at Euro 2008, when Portugal lost 2-0 to Switzerland.
Although there was a similar instance against Mexico at the 2006 World Cup, Ronaldo remained a starter in all of Portugal’s subsequent competitive fixtures.
His place on the bench against Croatia in June 2024 came in a friendly match. Given Ronaldo’s well-known competitive drive and his long-standing reluctance to sit on the bench, the coaching staff moved quickly to manage the situation, emphasizing that he remains a key player and an important part of the team’s plans for upcoming fixtures.
Resource: Al-Ghad.
