Ronaldo Omission against Spain ‘Tactical’, Says Santos

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo smiles by the bench before the UEFA Nations League match between Spain and Portugal, at the Benito Villamarin Stadium, in Seville, Spain, Thursday, June 2, 2022. (AP)
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo smiles by the bench before the UEFA Nations League match between Spain and Portugal, at the Benito Villamarin Stadium, in Seville, Spain, Thursday, June 2, 2022. (AP)
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Ronaldo Omission against Spain ‘Tactical’, Says Santos

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo smiles by the bench before the UEFA Nations League match between Spain and Portugal, at the Benito Villamarin Stadium, in Seville, Spain, Thursday, June 2, 2022. (AP)
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo smiles by the bench before the UEFA Nations League match between Spain and Portugal, at the Benito Villamarin Stadium, in Seville, Spain, Thursday, June 2, 2022. (AP)

Portugal manager Fernando Santos defended his decision to drop Cristiano Ronaldo from the starting line-up for their Nations League opener against Spain, saying he was confident that the forward could make a greater impact off the bench.

Ronaldo, his country's record goal-scorer, came on in the 62nd minute but failed to find the net as a late Ricardo Horta strike salvaged a 1-1 draw for Portugal.

"Cristiano Ronaldo? They often ask why he is a starter. It's the million-dollar question," said Santos after Thursday's result. "I understood that for this game it was better to use the players I used."

Santos said Ronaldo's exclusion was not a reflection of his quality, after the 37-year-old enjoyed a strong season for Manchester United, scoring 24 times in all competitions.

"It was a technical and tactical option for this game. It seemed to us the best solution. For the way we wanted to play and approach the game. It has nothing to do with Cristiano's quality, that's not even in question," he said.

"There are moments in the game when you have to think in a different way. We believed that in the second half he could come in and solve the game."

Alvaro Morata had given Spain the lead in Seville but the hosts failed to take their chances in the second half, with Jordi Alba spurning an opportunity in the dying minutes to snatch a win.

Portugal next play Switzerland on Sunday while Spain travel to Prague to face the Czech Republic.



F1 Seeks to Spice up Monaco GP with More Mandatory Pitstops

Ferrari’s Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc drives during the third practice session of the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix on May 25, 2024. (AFP)
Ferrari’s Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc drives during the third practice session of the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix on May 25, 2024. (AFP)
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F1 Seeks to Spice up Monaco GP with More Mandatory Pitstops

Ferrari’s Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc drives during the third practice session of the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix on May 25, 2024. (AFP)
Ferrari’s Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc drives during the third practice session of the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix on May 25, 2024. (AFP)

Formula One's governing body is planning to spice up the showcase Monaco Grand Prix by forcing teams to carry out more pitstops.

The FIA said in a statement that an F1 commission meeting in London on Tuesday had discussed "proposals for Monaco-specific regulations" to promote less processional racing at the tight and twisty circuit.

"The commission agreed to increase the numbers of mandatory pitstops in the race," it added, without providing further details.

"These proposals will be further discussed by the sporting advisory committee in the coming weeks."

The current mandatory minimum is one pitstop per race.

Overtaking is extremely difficult around Monaco, with qualifying and pole position a much more crucial element than at other races.

The FIA said there would also no longer be any restriction on the number of gearboxes teams could use during a season as the reliability of current designs had rendered the regulation obsolete.