70% fans don't want Ronaldo in starting XI against Switzerland: Survey

• Image Credit: Google

• Dec 5, 2022 | Dhupali Das

Portugal finished first in Group H, which also included Uruguay, Ghana, and South Korea...

Digital Desk: Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal will face Switzerland in the round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup 2022 on Wednesday. However, ahead of the knockout round, a poll done by the Portuguese sports newspaper A Bola revealed an unexpected result.

According to the poll, 70% of local fans do not want Ronaldo to play in the starting XI. The survey carried by A Bola asked fans: "Should Cristiano Ronaldo keep his title in the National Team?"

The newspaper also published a few of the comments. "What is the reason, why have you been a starter? He wasn’t a starter at the club, he’s not in shape, he says he wants to fight for titles, but every 7 days he’s sick, he doesn’t feel like training, whatever the excuse. . Such rude, I’ve never seen!"

They also praised the famous footballer in their comments. "Portugal in doubt? Why? The time we talk about Ronaldo. Everyone wants to see him fall… but in Portugal, we have a leader, a champion, a winner. Never has a Portuguese been so scared as him. Ronaldo is not just the goals. Only to his presence give freedom to others. His World Cup will start now."

Meanwhile, another highlighted Ronaldo's recent controversy following his explosive interview with British journalist Piers Morgan, following which he was sacked by his boyhood club Manchester United.

"He shouldn’t have even been called up after everything that happened in Manchester. He had the opportunity to be the leader in this selection, but he is being an obstacle. He’s crumbling the image he’s built of himself. Lose him and lose the selection. This is no longer CR7, it’s CR37," the comment read. 

Portugal finished first in Group H, which also included Uruguay, Ghana, and South Korea. They began their campaign with a 3-2 victory over Ghana, in which Ronaldo scored a record-breaking goal. The 2016 European Champions then managed to defeat Uruguay 2-0 before falling behind South Korea 1-2.