On October 10, 2021, the Portuguese National team faced off against South Korea in an international friendly match. Portugal had a strong start to the game and managed to secure an early lead after a goal from Bruno Fernandes. However, Portugal’s star player Cristiano Ronaldo was substituted at half-time, leading to questions about why he was removed from the game.
There are several possible reasons why Ronaldo was substituted. The first and most likely reason is that it was a pre-planned substitution by the coach. In many friendly games, coaches prefer to give playing time to as many players as possible to test their abilities and assess their performance. This could have been the case in this game, as Ronaldo is an aging player who may need to rest in order to perform at his best in upcoming matches.
Another reason could be that Ronaldo was carrying an injury or feeling some discomfort. Ronaldo has been known to have had issues with his knee before, which may have been a factor in his removal from the game. In addition, he has played two full matches in the past week, one for Manchester United and one for Portugal, so fatigue could also be a factor.
It is worth noting that Portugal had already secured a 3-0 lead at half-time, so there was no real need for Ronaldo to continue playing. In fact, the substitution allowed the coach to bring on younger players and give them a chance to showcase their abilities.
Despite the reasons behind Ronaldo’s substitution, it is clear that he is a crucial player for Portugal. His absence was felt in the second half of the game, as Portugal failed to score any more goals and South Korea managed to pull one back. However, the team still managed to secure a 3-1 victory, showing that they have a strong squad beyond just Ronaldo.
Overall, there are several possible reasons why Ronaldo was removed from the game against South Korea. While his absence was felt in the second half, it is clear that the Portuguese National team has a strong squad that can perform well without him. As the team prepares for upcoming matches, it will be interesting to see how Ronaldo is utilized and whether he will be rested or given more playing time in the future.
