After the 1-0 draw against Morocco, the Portuguese are, as always, all about Cristiano Ronaldo. His loyalists see their darling betrayed as a substitute, the coach says he has no regrets. And Ronaldo? Go in silence.
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Javier Caceres, Doha
The quarter-final between Morocco and Portugal was over and everything seemed to be coming full circle. Or were there several? Portugal were eliminated at Al Thumama and Ronaldo paused briefly, only to be overcome by a sadness bigger and more heartbreaking than Rádio Amalia’s top 10 fados. Tears welled up in his eyes, and there was not enough strength in his body to hold back even a microliter of this liquid. He headed for the cabin. Alone. Or more precisely: lonely.