Football News : Portugal hits six past Switzerland to enter the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals

Portugal beat Switzerland 6-1 in the World Cup 2022's round of 16 at Lusail Stadium on Tuesday night to advance to the quarterfinals.

Goncalo Ramos scored the first hat-trick of the tournament in Qatar, and Pepe, Raphael Guerreiro, and Rafael Leao also scored as Portugal easily defeated a lacklustre Swiss team, which had only one goal on the night, scored by Manuel Akanji midway through the second half.

For just the third time in their history and for the first time since 2006, Fernando Santos' team has reached the World Cup quarterfinals. This has set up a matchup with Morocco, who upset Spain earlier in the day by defeating them 3-0 on penalties.

Before the game began, the news that Cristiano Ronaldo had been moved to the bench of replacements generated the most discussion. The 37-year-old has not started for Portugal in a major event since their match against Switzerland at Euro 2008. Santos, who was critical of Ronaldo's behaviour after being substituted in the 2-1 defeat to South Korea last time out, took the risky choice to start Benfica attacker Ramos in place of the five-time Ballon d'Or winner.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner was replaced by Benfica striker Ramos, who was given his first international start, after Santos criticised Ronaldo's behaviour after being substituted in the 2-1 defeat to South Korea

The 21-year-old, who just a few weeks ago earned his senior international debut, did in fact repay his manager's faith by kicking off the scoring in a decisive manner in the 18th minute.

Ramos immediately turned after receiving the ball from Joao Felix inside the area on the left channel, fired a potent left-footed effort from a narrow angle into the top corner, and beat Yann Sommer all the way to the near post.

After the initial goal, Portugal took control of the game against a Swiss team that is typically noted for its resiliency. Sommer was called into action again, and he easily stopped two shots from Otavio and Ramos from the edge of the box.

The 29th minute saw XherdanShaqiri have Switzerland's greatest chance of the first half. His vicious free kick from about 30 yards out forced Diogo Costa to dive toward his left post and push the ball away for a corner.

That turned out to be Switzerland's only serious chance in the opening 45 minutes, as Portugal quickly rushed up the other end to double their advantage in the 33rd minute thanks to a powerful header from a seasoned defender.

Pepe surpassed Roger Milla (42 years and 39 days) as the second-oldest World Cup goal scorer when he leapt above Akanji and Fabian Schar to head in a Bruno Fernandes corner at the age of 39 years and 283 days.

Three minutes before halftime, Sommer stopped Ramos from scoring his second goal of the evening by diving full stretch to tip the ball away from harm.

Ramos, a Benfica player, scored his second goal and Portugal's third goal barely four minutes after the half when Diogo Dalot fizzed a low-driven cross from the right towards him. Ramos ducked in front of the defender at the near post and flicked the ball through Sommer's legs.

In the 55th minute, Portugal added a fourth goal thanks to a well-executed free-flowing counterattacking move that ended with left-back Guerreiro shooting beyond Sommer and into the roof of the net.

Switzerland did had a very minor say in the goalsheet after Manuel Akanji turned one in from a Shaqiri corner.

However, thereafter, Portugal continued their attacking path and Ramos marked his hat-trick while Rafael Leao curled one in at the stoppage time to complete the 6-1 thumping win over thw Swiss.

The Al Thumama Stadium will host Portugal's match against Morocco in the quarterfinals on Saturday. The victor will play either England or France in the semifinals.

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