Portugal's first home match since Cristiano Ronaldo's departure from the national team setup exposed a split in opinion among supporters. Outside the Estádio do Dragão ahead of the fixture, some fans criticised the forward's absence, calling it an unfair decision. "It wasn't just, it wasn't correct," said one supporter, capturing the sentiment of a section of the crowd.
This division comes as the team enjoys a strong run of form on the pitch. A 4-2 win in Denmark on October 1st marked a third consecutive victory.
Context of the absence
Ronaldo's absence, after an era-defining career with the national side, was the dominant topic of conversation around the stadium. The coaching staff, however, is moving forward with a renewed squad that has delivered on the pitch. Gonçalo Ramos and João Félix have scored in the last two games. The next chance for fans to back the team comes this Saturday in another home fixture listed on our fixtures page.
With focus firmly on the future, the team prepares to host Norway, aiming to close the two-point gap to group leaders Colombia. The dressing room atmosphere remains fixed on sporting objectives, distancing itself from the external debate about a figure from the past. The next match is scheduled for October 4th.
This story first appeared at SAPO
