As quoted by A Bola, Portugal coach Fernando Santos chose to remain diplomatic when speaking to Portuguese television when asked who should be awarded Portugal’s opening goal following his team’s 2-0 Group H win over Uruguay.
A cross from midfielder Bruno Fernandes saw Cristiano Ronaldo race onto the delivery to try and head home. Ronaldo swung his head at the ball and watched the ball bounce past Uruguay goalkeeper Sergio Rochet before celebrating the goal as if he’d scored, but replays remain inconclusive as to if Ronaldo actually got a touch or not.
Santos said afterward: “It was a great game, Bruno played a great game, Cristiano played a great game, it doesn’t matter much to me.” Some television graphics awarded the goal to Ronaldo while the stadium announcer in Lusail gave the goal to Fernandes.
The Portuguese pair were Manchester United teammates until recently before Ronaldo’s contract was terminated by United following the 37-year-old’s explosive interview with Piers Morgan in which he heavily criticised the club.
GWFN
