DOHA, Qatar (AP) — The fortunes of Portugal’s nationwide group have been inextricably linked with Cristiano Ronaldo for practically 20 years.Is a brand new period upon us?Ronaldo was in tears as he made his technique to the locker room following Portugal’s 1-0 loss to Morocco within the World Cup quarterfinals on Saturday.It stays to be seen if that was the final time the world noticed Ronaldo on soccer’s worldwide stage. Whether it is, it marks an enormous second for the Portugal group, given Ronaldo is its captain, file scorer and biggest ever participant.There’s an opportunity the group may also have a unique coach for the primary time since 2014 when qualification for the 2024 European Championship begins in March. EXPECTATION VS. PERFORMANCEReaching the quarterfinals was the minimal anticipated of Portugal contemplating the depth of expertise in its squad. The group sailed by the group section by profitable its opening two video games. Coach Fernando Santos rotated most of his beginning lineup for the ultimate group-stage match towards South Korea, which gained 2-1 on a late purpose, after which thrashed Switzerland 6-1 within the spherical of 16. Regardless of Morocco’s robust protection and standing because the shock of the match, Portugal was nonetheless anticipated to beat the North African nation within the quarterfinals so, in that sense, it’s one other missed alternative and doubtless an general underperformance by Ronaldo and his group.WHO’S OUTThe world is ready to see if the 37-year-old Ronaldo retires from worldwide obligation after scoring 118 targets — a file in males’s soccer — and making 196 appearances in his 19 years with the nationwide group. If Ronaldo does proceed, almost definitely it’s just for Euro 2024 and never additionally the 2026 World Cup, by which era he might be aged 41. At 39, heart again Pepe is more likely to have performed his last main match. What’s extra unsure is the way forward for Santos, who took cost of Portugal in 2014 after 4 years on the helm of Greece’s nationwide group. He has a contract by 2024 and repeatedly deflected any speak about leaving his submit earlier after the loss to Morocco. “I’ll have a dialogue with the (Portuguese soccer federation) president and once we return to Portugal, we’ll cope with the difficulty of the contract,” Santos mentioned.WHO’S NEXTA future with out Ronaldo is perhaps an alarming proposition however there’s expertise coming by. Up entrance, there’s the 21-year-old Gonçalo Ramos, who scored a hat trick towards Switzerland when standing in for Ronaldo in his first begin for the nationwide group. There’s a lot pleasure concerning the growth of António Silva, a 19-year-old heart again at Benfica who appears the pure substitute for Pepe — a participant greater than twice Silva’s age. João Félix is barely 23 so has time on his facet, whereas full backs Diogo Dalot and Nuno Mendes are solely 23 and 20, respectively.WHAT’S NEXTWith or with out Ronaldo, Portugal is the favourite in a kind-looking qualifying group for Euro 2024. Portugal opens group play in March with a house match towards Liechtenstein. The opposite groups in Group J are Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Slovakia and Luxembourg. If Portugal reaches the match in Germany, count on the group to be among the many favorites — even with out its most well-known participant.___Steve Douglas is at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80___
Portugal prepares for post-Ronaldo period after World Cup exit
![Portugal prepares for post-Ronaldo period after World Cup exit 1 Portugal prepares for post-Ronaldo era after World Cup exit](https://i0.wp.com/fifanews.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Portugal-prepares-for-post-Ronaldo-era-after-World-Cup-exit-scaled.jpeg?resize=860%2C573&ssl=1)