{"id":160232,"date":"2021-11-14T23:09:43","date_gmt":"2021-11-15T00:09:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=160232"},"modified":"2021-11-15T03:01:25","modified_gmt":"2021-11-15T03:01:25","slug":"portugal-ronaldo-on-verge-of-world-cup-exile","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=160232","title":{"rendered":"Portugal, Ronaldo on verge of World Cup exile"},"content":{"rendered":"

After the final whistle, Cristiano Ronaldo<\/a> sat on the field by himself, shaking his head and looking desolate.<\/p>\n

Some teammates came over to console him. A few opponents did as well.<\/p>\n

Watch Messi, Neymar, Ronaldo and football's biggest superstars in the UEFA Champions League with every match streaming ad free, live and on demand only on Stan Sport.<\/strong><\/em> Start your seven day free trial here!<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Portugal had just been stunned by Serbia at home in World Cup qualifying. The 36-year-old Ronaldo was suddenly in danger of missing out on what could be his last appearance at the tournament.<\/p>\n

Aleksandar Mitrovic scored in the 90th minute as Serbia came from behind to beat Portugal 2-1 this morning (AEDT) to qualify for next year's World Cup in Qatar, sending Ronaldo's team to the playoffs.<\/p>\n

Mitrovic came off the bench to score the winner with a header after the Portugal defence failed to clear a cross into the area.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Ronaldo looked upset and complained with his teammates after the late goal that could keep him from making his fifth straight World Cup appearance.<\/p>\n

Portugal will have to face the playoffs with the other nine group runners-up and two group winners from the UEFA Nations League. The 12 countries will play next March in three four-team brackets, with the seeded teams getting a home game in the bracket semifinals.<\/p>\n

"It was a terrible match for us," Portugal midfielder Bernardo Silva said. "It's hard to explain. We should have done a lot better. We have to apologise to our fans."<\/p>\n

The loss ended Portugal's winning run in World Cup qualifiers at home dating back to 2013.<\/p>\n

A draw would have been enough for the hosts, with Portugal trying to qualify for the World Cup for the sixth straight time.<\/p>\n

\"Serbia's<\/p>\n

Serbia, which had never beaten Portugal, finished first in Group A with 20 points, three more than second-place Portugal.<\/p>\n

"We were the better team today in every aspect of the game," said Mitrovic, whose penalty shootout miss against Scotland a year ago took Serbia out of the playoffs for the 2020 European Championship. "I think we deserved to win the game and to be in Qatar."<\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> Mitchell Marsh's three ball onslaught at T20 World Cup<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Renato Sanches put Portugal ahead with a right-footed shot from close range only two minutes into the match at the Stadium of Light after Silva stole possession from a defender outside the area. Video review confirmed the goal despite Serbia claiming a foul by Silva.<\/p>\n

Dusan Vlahovic nearly equalised for Serbia 10 minutes later with a shot that hit the post, and Dusan Tadic didn't miss in the 33rd with a strike from outside the area that took a deflection from a defender and fooled goalkeeper Rui Patr\u00edcio.<\/p>\n

\"Cristiano<\/p>\n

It was a well-placed cross by Tadic from the right side that allowed Mitrovic to score the winner with a header that bounced off the ground before going in past Patr\u00edcio by the near post.<\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> World Cup batting masterclass hailed as 'one of the best'<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

"It was a good cross from Tadic," Mitrovic said. "We know each other very well. He knows where I am going to be, I know where he'll put the ball."<\/p>\n

Portugal and Serbia entered the final round level on points after seven matches, but Portugal had the advantage of being able to qualify with a draw because of a better goal difference.<\/p>\n

Serbia had rallied from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw with Portugal in March.<\/p>\n

Portugal has played in every World Cup since 2002 after failing to make it to the tournament from 1990-1998. It was eliminated by Uruguay in the round of 16 of the World Cup in Russia in 2018.<\/p>\n

Serbia didn't make it past the group stage in Russia and did not qualify for the tournament in Brazil four years earlier.<\/p>\n

Ireland won 3-0 at Luxembourg in the other Group A game.<\/p>\n

For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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