World Cup

BRUNO FERNANDES has launched a passionate defence of Cristiano Ronaldo, asking: “Do you think anyone likes being benched?”Ronaldo, 37, was sensationally dropped by Portugal for last night’s 6-1 win over Switzerland.
Cristiano Ronaldo has been defended by Portugal teammate Bruno FernandesCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Fernandes insists Ronnie is right behind Portugal’s World Cup bid despite being droppedCredit: Getty
The ex-Man United star watched from the bench as replacement Goncalo Ramos netted a hat-trick to set up a quarter-final tie with Morocco.
In scenes echoing those against Tottenham at Old Trafford, Ronaldo walked down the tunnel while his teammates were celebrating on the field.
And it is unclear if he regains his spot in Portugal’s next game after Ramos laid down a marker against the Swiss.
However, former United teammate Fernandes has backed Ronaldo in his latest struggle.
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The midfielder believes it is never easy for a player to be axed from the starting XI.
And Fernandes insists Ronaldo IS backing Portugal’s World Cup bid 100 per cent, despite his own SISTER urging the veteran to “come home.”
Fernandes said: “Do you think anyone likes to be on the bench? I don’t think Cristiano would be happy.
“If the manager put me on the bench in the next game, I would be angry.
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“Cristiano is doing his job, he’s doing his part, he’s happy with the result because the goal for everyone is to go as far as possible.”
Ronaldo wasn’t the only player to be dropped by Nuno Santos yesterday.
Man City full-back Joao Cancelo saw himself replaced by United’s Diogo Dalot.
And Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves was ousted in favour of Real Betis’ William Carvalho.
It suggests Ronaldo’s exit could simply have been a tactical one.
But it remains to be seen if he returns for Morocco on Saturday. More

CRISTIANO RONALDO was reportedly absent from Portugal’s latest World Cup training session.The Portugal legend was dropped from Fernando Santos’ side that beat Switzerland 6-1 to progress through the quarter-finals.
Portugal manager Fernando Santos embraces with Cristiano RonaldoCredit: Getty
Cristiano Ronaldo was dropped against SwitzerlandCredit: Reuters
Santos then had his substitutes out the day after to do a light session, but according to Marca, Ronaldo was not involved.
It is the latest twist in the forward’s dramatic World Cup campaign, which started by leaving Manchester United.
Ronaldo mutually walked out following his explosive interview with The Sun’s Piers Morgan, in which he criticised the club and Erik ten Hag.
The ex-Real Madrid and Juventus man then found himself on the end of Santos’ wrath for his reaction to being subbed against South Korea.
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And he was subsequently dropped against Switzerland with his replacement Goncalo Ramos going on to score a hat-trick.
It leaves Ronaldo’s place in Portugal’s quarter-final side that faces Morocco on Saturday in doubt.
Manager Santos said: “That is still something that has to be defined.
“I have a very close relationship with him – I always have, I have known him since he was 19 years old.
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“This relationship only develops, Ronaldo and I never interpret the human aspect of that of manager and player (in relation to) what we have to do during the match.
“I will always consider in my role that he is an important player to have in the team.”
Asked directly if Ronaldo would play against Morocco, Santos replied: “Ronaldo will definitely (be involved), all the players on the bench can be used, if they are not in the starting line-up they can play later.
“It is important to look at the example of this player’s history, he is one of the best players in the world at playing professionally, being captain – all we have to do is think about this team collectively.” More

THE World Cup has now well and truly hit the business stage of the tournament with it all to play for. But some players have to be more cautious than others, or risk watching from the sidelines.

That’s because two yellow cards in the competition is enough to earn a one-game ban.
The numbers are reset in the last four, meaning only a red card can see a player miss the final.
But that means NINETEEN World Cup stars one rash challenge away from missing the semis.
Remarkably NONE of them are English, with the Three Lions not having received a single booking so far.
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The nation with the most are Portugal, who qualified to the last eight by hammering Switzerland 6-1.
Bruno Fernandes, Danilo Pereira, Ruben Neves, Joao Felix, Ruben Dias are all a booking away from a ban.
Their next opponents Morocco, who stunned Spain on penalties, have three in Sofyan Amrabat, Abdelhamid Sabiri, and Romain Saiss.

While England have nobody at risk, the French on the other hand have Aurelien Tchouameni and Jules Kounde to be cautious of.
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Croatia, beaten in the final by France four years ago, will be wary of ex-Premier League pair Luka Modric and Dejan Lovren on bookings.
Their opponents, the in-form Brazil, have trio Fred, Eder Militao, and Bruno Guimaraes carrying cards.
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In a battle of the big boys, Argentina play Netherlands on Friday, with both risking a pair of suspensions.
Lionel Messi’s Argentina have Gonzalo Montiel and Marcos Acuna a booking away from a ban.
And Netherlands take Nathan Ake, Matthijs de Ligt into the game a caution away from suspension.
Bruno Fernandes is a booking away from suspensionCredit: Getty
Aurelien Tchouameni is a yellow card away from being bannedCredit: Getty More

BELGIUM stars have jetted off on holiday after suffering the heartache of an early exit from the World Cup.The 2018 semi-finalists flopped in Qatar, appearing to be on their last legs as they fell at the first hurdle.
Thibaut Courtois has jetted off with fiancee Mishel GerzigCredit: Instagram / @thibautcourtois
Stunning Mishel poses on the beachCredit: Instagram / @mishelgerzig
The happy couple are in the Maldives togetherCredit: Instagram / @mishelgerzig
An unconvincing 1-0 victory over Canada was followed by a 2-0 defeat to surprise package Morocco.
Roberto Martinez’s side performed better against Croatia in their final group match, but a series of inexplicable misses by Romelu Lukaku saw them fail to secure the win they needed to advance.
Lukaku, 29, is required back at Inter Milan training on Saturday, but a number of other Belgian stars have whisked themselves away on holiday.
Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has gone to the Maldives with his stunning fiancee Mishel Gerzig.
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The happy couple looked thrilled as they cuddled up for a romantic picture, which Courtois later posted to Instagram.
Real Madrid’s No1 won’t be back in action until December 30, when the Spanish champions resume their campaign with a trip to Valladolid.
Kevin De Bruyne, meanwhile, has taken his family to Lapland.
While Courtois is enjoying the sunshine of the Maldives, De Bruyne has been huddled around a camp fire in minus four degrees alongside wife Michele Lacroix and children Mason, six, Rome, four, and Suri, two.
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Courtois is enjoying his luxurious surroundingsCredit: Instagram / @thibautcourtois
Kevin De Bruyne has taken his family to LaplandCredit: Instagram / @lacroixmichele
Exciting youngster Jeremy Doku hasn’t gone far – taking a one hour flight from Doha to Dubai to enjoy some more sun.
Aston Villa ace Leander Dendoncker, meanwhile, has gone further east to Japan with girlfriend Anna Steegen.
These Belgian stars will have another chance to right the wrongs of their Qatar 2022 experience.
But one man that won’t have another crack is Eden Hazard.
The Real Madrid ace has retired from international duty aged 31 after earning 126 caps for his country.
Taking to Instagram to confirm his decision, he wrote: “A page turns today… Thank you for your love.
“Thank you for your unparalleled support. Thank you for all this happiness shared since 2008.
“I have decided to put an end to my international career. The succession is ready. I will miss you…”
Jeremy Doku has shared his location on InstagramCredit: Instagram / @jeremydoku
Leander Dendoncker has shared snaps from plenty of previous tripsCredit: INSTAGRAM / @l.dendoncker More

ENGLAND have been handed a surprise weather forecast for Saturday – as it is set to RAIN.A shower in Doha is forecast at midday on the day of the quarter-final against France but the conditions will be bone-dry when the match kick-offs at 10pm local time (7pm GMT).
England training ahead of their World Cup quarter-finals against FranceCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
It is also rained today but in the north of Qatar, 100 miles north of Doha, yet it was cloudy and 29C when England’s 22 players trained.
Doha gets about 1.2cm of rain each December – rising to – 2cm in both February and March.
Unsurprisingly, it does not rain at all in June, July, August and September.
Initially, England trained in temperatures of 30C-plus at around midday, to prepare them for the tournament.
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But since they started the group stages, Gareth Southgate switched to sessions to around 3pm when it has been slightly cooler although today it is humid.
The air-conditioned stadiums initially had a temperature of 22C but according to many of the players, it has felt slightly cooler due to the massive fans pitchside.
Now, as the evenings are slightly cooler, the air conditioning has been switched off.
Midfielder Declan Rice MISSED England’s latest training session ahead of their crunch clash against the 2018 world champions.
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The West Ham star sat out due to illness while Newcastle striker Callum Wilson was also absent due to a minor knock.
France’s strike sensation Kylian Mbappe also missed training, days out from the last eight match after complaining of a niggling ankle injury.
And though Didier Deschamps’ coaching staff insisted he was simply doing recovery work in the gym, his absence has sparked fears in the French camp that he could miss Saturday’s game against England.
Kylian Mbappe missed France training in what could be another boostCredit: Getty More