Ronaldo joins the party as Swiss roll over
CriSTiANo ronaldo is guaranteed one final crack at lifting the World Cup after portugal booked their place in the finals with victory against Switzerland.
They went into their final fixture knowing only a win over their direct rivals would avert a nerve-jangling play-off. The Swiss led Group B after winning all nine games. portugal sat three points behind but had a superior goal difference.
Four-time Ballon d’or winner ronaldo, who has scored 15 goals in the qualifying campaign, was absent through injury when Switzerland beat portugal in Basle in September last year.
He was ready to play in Lisbon last night though, in front of an expectant crowd that included pop superstar Madonna. Her 11- year- old adopted son David Banda trained with Benfica over the summer and now attends school in Lisbon.
Arsenal’s Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka compared this match to a World Cup final and the visitors did start with purpose. Switzerland resisted portugal’s early pressure and then had a strong penalty claim turned down when eliseu clipped striker Haris Seferovic in the first half.
portugal took the lead in the 41st minute when eliseu whipped in a cross from the left flank and goalkeeper Yann Sommer collided with his own defender Johan Djourou and the former Arsenal man put the ball into his own net.
portugal doubled their lead in the 57th minute, after a glorious interchange of passes featuring Joao Moutinho and Bernardo Silva before AC Milan striker Andre Silva applied the finish. Switzerland now face the play-offs as they strive to qualify for a fourth World Cup while portugal are heading to russia.
Manager Fernando Santos said: ‘i always believed we could do it. i believed in the players and they gave me this present. When you have quality and organisation, you are always closer to winning.
‘ The 90 minutes weren’t perfect, but fortunately we won and we are going to russia.’
ronaldo, who will be 33 next summer, tasted international success by winning euro 2016 but it has so far been a story of disappointment at World Cups. portugal exited at the group stage in 2014, fell to Spain in 2010 and lost to France in 2006.