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A sensational hat-trick from Gonçalo Ramos fired Portugal to a resounding 6-1 victory over Switzerland at the Lusail Iconic Stadium, as the Seleção secured a spot in the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup (WC) for just the second time since 1966.
Yet, despite an uneventful start, it was Ramos – the man who replaced Ronaldo in the Portuguese starting 11 – who soon took centre stage, with a stunning angled strike that flew beyond a flat-footed Yann Sommer.
Buoyed by the breakthrough, a Seleção went in pursuit of a quickfire second, and duly doubled their advantage in the 33rd minute, when a superb Bruno Fernandes corner was clinically headed home by veteran centre-back Pepe.
Despite the Portuguese assault, Switzerland managed to immediately pull a goal back through Manuel Akanji, although this did little to stem the tide, as Ramos soon completed his treble with a clipped finish over Sommer.
In doing so, he ensured that Portugal would at least match their greatest margin of victory at the World Cup finals over a European nation since Pauleta’s treble helped to smash Poland 4-0 in Jeonju 20 years ago.
