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Cristiano Ronaldo World Cup decision backfires as Fernando Santos 'sacked' by Portugal
Portugal are expected to announce Fernando Santos' departure on Thursday evening after Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup heartbreak.
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Portugal have reportedly sacked manager Fernando Santos after their World Cup quarter-final exit to Morocco. Santos' decision to bench Cristiano Ronaldo backfired as his ever-promising side failed to deliver again at a major tournament in Qatar this winter.
According to Record, Portugal will make the 68-year-old's dismissal official on Thursday night. He has been in charge of the national team for eight years, and his contract runs until 2024, but the announcement of his termination is expected imminently.
The report adds the Portuguese Football Federation president Fernando Gomes has prioritised AS Roma manager Jose Mourinho as Santos' successor. Whether Mourinho is ready to leave club football for an international role remains to be seen, but the opportunity to lead his nation into Euro 2026 could tempt him.
Santos took charge in 2014 and guided Portugal to their first-ever major international trophy, lifting Euro 2016 despite only winning a single game in normal time throughout the entire tournament. But Portugal were then dumped out of the 2018 World Cup in the last 16, losing 2-1 to Uruguay.
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Portugal clinched the maiden UEFA Nations League in 2019 but suffered another round-of-16 defeat in the following major tournament, this time falling 1-0 to Belgium at Euro 2020. They went one better at this winter's World Cup but ultimately underperformed, failing to live up to their status as one of the competition's favourites.
Santos' decision to snub Ronaldo for Portugal's last-16 clash with Switzerland looked like a masterstroke after his side romped to a 6-1 win.
The 37-year-old's replacement, Goncalo Ramos, netting a hat-trick on his World Cup debut made the decision all the more impressive. However, lightning didn't strike twice as Morocco sent them home after a toothless display, having just three shots on target.
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Portugal will want to appoint Santos' replacement in a hasty fashion, with qualifiers for Euro 2026 commencing in March with the visit of Liechtenstein and the trip to Luxembourg. Portugal have been dealt a favourable group, pitted against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg and Slovakia.
Ronaldo and co will likely join the planet in watching Sunday's World Cup final, with France taking on Argentina. Les Bleus are looking to become the first country to retain the trophy since Brazil in 1962, while Lionel Messi faces his final chance to add the World Cup to his illustrious legacy.
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