70 Percent of Portugal Supporters Don't Want Ronaldo to Start Against Switzerland

Portugal national team player Cristiano Ronaldo. (Photo: Twitter @selecaoportugal)

JAKARTA — Most supporters of the Portugal national team do not want Cristiano Ronaldo to start against Switzerland in the round of 16 of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Portugal and Switzerland will face each other at the Lusail Stadium, Wednesday, December 7 in the early hours of tomorrow. Reportedly, Ronaldo will be a starter on the front lines of A Selecao.

However, not all parties agree. In fact, the majority of Portugal supporters did not expect the news to come true.

This is known through the results of a survey conducted by the Portuguese sports media, A Bola, recently. This percentage is quite reasonable because the former Manchester United player was not at his best.

The 37-year-old player has so far scored the only goal from the spot when Portugal won 3-2 over Ghana in the first match of Group H qualification on Thursday, November 24.

In addition, Ronaldo was also included in the worst starting eleven (XI) players during the group stage. In total, he only collected an average value of only 6.37 in the three matches played.

This note made Portugal fans want their captain to be dropped from the line-up. They even made scathing comments attacking Ronaldo who was trying to win the first World Cup in his career.

"What's the reason, why are you starting? He's not a starter at the club; he's not fit; he says he wants to fight for the title, but he's always sick every seven days; he doesn't feel like training, whatever the reason", wrote one fan in the media social quoted Sportskeeda.

"He shouldn't have been called up after everything that happened in Manchester (United). He had the opportunity to be a leader in this selection, but he [was] a hindrance. He destroyed the image he built himself. This is no longer CR7; this is CR37", wrote another netizen insinuating Ronaldo's age.

On paper, Ronaldo and his friends are the favorites to win against Switzerland. However, Portugal cannot underestimate Switzerland, which has quality attack options.

If he becomes a starter, Ronaldo has a big chance to score his first goal in the knockout round of this competition every four years. After a disappointing performance in the group stage, he must be ambitious to guide Portugal through to the last eight.