Cristiano Ronaldo is out of Portugal’s starting line-up for today’s World Cup quarter-final with Morocco.
A number of bold selection calls worked in veteran coach Fernando Santos’ favour as the Selecao dumped Switzerland out in the last-16 on Tuesday, Goncalo Ramos taking centre stage with a hat-trick in a 6-1 rout.
That performance has left Ronaldo on the bench once again, testing Portugal’s claim that the 37-year-old will be happy to play a bit-part role for the World Cup’s climax in Qatar.
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Both Portugal and Ronaldo have denied that he threatened to leave their camp after being dropped against the Swiss, with Santos unhappy with his star player’s reaction to being substituted against South Korea in the group stage finale.
Santos continues to leave Joao Cancelo out, favouring Raphael Guerreiro and Diogo Dalot in the full-back positions with Nuno Mendes injured.
Danilo Pereira is injured with Pepe in the XI following his goal in the last-16. Otavio returned from a knock and continues in central midfield, with Ruben Neves beating William Carvalho to start.
As for Morocco, Walid Regragui’s storming success has been partly down to a very settled lineup and approach.
West Ham defender Nayef Aguerd is absent after being forced off in the last-16, Jawad El Yamiq is his replacement. Yahia Attiyat Allah comes in at left-back for Noussair Mazraoui.
Morocco XI (4-3-3): Bono; Hakimi, El Yamiq, Saiss, Attiyat Allah; Amrabat, Amallah, Ounahi; Ziyech, En-Nesyri, Boufal.
Portugal XI (4-2-3-1): Costa; Dalot, Pepe, Dias, Guerreiro; Neves, Otavio; Silva, Fernandes, Felix; Ramos.
