Portugal 6 Switzerland 1 LIVE RESULT: Ronaldo replacement Ramos scores HAT-TRICK to book World Cup quarter-final spot
PORTUGAL are through to the World Cup quarter-final thanks to a brilliant hat-trick from Goncalo Ramos against Switzerland.
Ramos put his side ahead with a stunning effort in his first ever start for Portugal, having replaced Cristiano Ronaldo, who was benched for the game.
Veteran Pepe made it 2-0 with a thumping header soon after before Ramos bagged his second of the game after half-time.
Raphael Guerrero added a brilliant fourth moments later before Manchester City's Manuel Akanji pulled one back for the Swiss.
Ramos then scored his hat-trick with a brilliant chip before Raphael Leao made it six.
- RESULT: Portugal 6-1 Switzerland
- Portugal XI: Diogo Costa; Diogo Dalot, Pepe, Ruben Dias, Guerreiro; William Carvalho, Bernardo Silva, Otavio, Bruno Fernandes; Gonçalo Ramos, Joao Felix
- Switzerland XI: Sommer; Fernandes, Schar, Akanji, Rodriguez; Freuler, Xhaka; Shaqiri, Sow, Vargas; Embolo
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The teams are out
The stage is set. Kick off is just a few minutes away!
Carragher has his say
Jamie Carragher believes Cristiano Ronaldo has been left out of Portugal's line-up because of his poor performances.
The former Man Utd man has scored just once so far in the tournament.
From the grounds
SunSport's Dan King reports live from the Lusail Stadium.
"Unless there's a sudden and swift influx of fans, this is going to look bad for Fifa.
"Thousands and thousands of empty seats right now.
"Organisers have allegedly been waving people through late doors in order to hide the gaps, but that is going to be a major operation tonight."
Credit: EPA
Not Ron
Cristiano Ronaldo is not starting a game for Portugal at a major tournament for the first time since 2008.
Credit: PA Preparations underway
Both sides are out and warming up on the pitch.
Credit: Getty 'He has to do better'
When speaking on ITV ahead of today's match, Manchester United legend - and Cristiano Ronaldo's former teammate - Gary Neville has urged the Portugal star to stop with the 'sulking'.
He said: "It wouldn't surprise me if Ronaldo comes on and scores the winner but the petulance and sulking has to stop.
"He is one of the all time great players but in the short term he has to do better."
From the grounds
SunSport's Dan King reports live from the Lusail Stadium:
"MOROCCO’S WIN OVER Spain ratchets up the tension for this game just that little more.
"As if it needed it, after Fernando Santos bit the bullet and left captain Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench for Portugal.
"After resting players against South Korea, Santos goes for his strongest 11 but doesn’t feel the 37 year old should be in it.
"In comes Benfica’s Goncalo Ramos for the biggest game of his life.
"Ronaldo is not the only Portuguese story - Joao Cancelo has been dropped and Raphael Guerreiro is back in, while Otavio returns in midfield at the expense of Ruben Neves.
"Switzerland make one change from the team that started the emotional win over Serbia.
"In comes Edmilson Fernandes at right back, which suggests Murat Yakin meant what he said yesterday.
"The Swiss head coach insisted his team were capable not just of living with the big teams but also of dominating them.
"Fernandes is nominally a midfielder and it will be interesting to see if he tries to get at Portugal down their left.
"Right now, one man’s absence is the story. But by the end, it is the presence of one of these teams in the quarter finals that will be the big news.
"Switzerland have only been there once, when they hosted in 1954. Portugal have done it twice, in 1966 and 2006.
"And they know that if they make a bit of history tonight, they will face Morocco for a place in the semi finals.
"I hope they go toe to toe to win that right, rather than sit back to avoid losing it.
"The stands at the Lusail Iconic Stadium are pretty sparsely populated at the moment."
Spain KNOCKED OUT by Morocco
Spain have been knocked out of the World Cup by Morocco on penalties.
The final score after extra time of the penultimate round-of-16 clash was 0-0.
But, after the Spaniards failed to score any of their penalties, Morocco won the clash 3-0, sending them through to the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time ever.
Morocco will now take on the winner of this evening's match.
Credit: Getty Ronaldo dropped
Cristiano Ronaldo has somehow managed to write his name in the headlines once again.
Just a few weeks after being dismissed from Manchester United for THAT tell-all interview with Piers Morgan, he has fallen out-of-favour with Portugal manager Fernando Santos.
The five-time Ballon d'or winner threw a strop after being substituted against South Korea last week, sparking a furious reaction from Santos and Portugal supporters.
Credit: EPA
Switzerland substitutes
Nico Elvedi, Denis Zakaria, Haris Seferovic, Renato Steffen, Jonas Omlin, Michel Aebischer, Christian Fassnacht, Eray Comert, Noah Okafor, Fabian Frei, Gregor Kobel, Philipp Kohn, Fabian Rieder, Ardon Jashari.
Portugal substitutes
Rui Patricio, Joao Palhinha, Cristiano Ronaldo, Andre Silva, Jose Sa, Rafael Leao, Vitinha, Joao Mario, Ruben Neves, Joao Cancelo, Ricardo Horta, Matheus Nunes, Antonio Silva.
Switzerland starting line-up
Yann Sommer, Edimilson Fernandes, Manuel Akanji, Fabian Schar, Ricardo Rodriguez, Granit Xhaka, Remo Freuler, Djibril Sow, Xherdan Shaqiri, Ruben Vargas, Breel Embolo.
Portugal starting line-up
Diogo Costa, Diogo Dalot, Pepe, Ruben Dias, Raphael Guerreiro, William Carvalho, Otavio, Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Joao Felix, Goncalo Ramos.
Pepe takes the captain's armband from Ronaldo, while Ramos replaces him in attack.
BREAKING: Ronaldo DROPPED to the bench
Cristiano Ronaldo has been dropped from Portugal's starting line-up.
More to follow...
Credit: Getty All gone Ron?
Cristiano Ronaldo has been dropped to the bench, according to Portuguese sources.
A poll in leading sports outlet A Bola revealed 70 per cent of fans wanted Ronaldo to be left out of the starting 11 against Switzerland.
It looks like they've got their wish.
Portugal boss Fernando Santos revealed his anger at Ronaldo's show of dissent when he was substituted against South Korea.
The rumours are that Benfica's Goncalo Ramos will replace him, although there is an outside chance it will be Andre Silva.
Credit: Getty
Welcome to Portugal vs Switzerland
Good evening and welcome to SunSport’s coverage of Portugal vs Switzerland.
We’ve reached the final game of the World Cup round-of-16 and only one spot in the quarter-finals remains.
The Netherlands, Argentina, France, England, Croatia and Brazil have already booked their spot in the next round, and now both Portugal and Switzerland are eager to follow suit.
A huge clash awaits.