Cristiano Ronaldo at the gates of the round of 16, Brazil are looking for the key without Neymar

Two padlocks awaiting their key: Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal will open their doors to the round of 16 if they win against Uruguay (19:00 GMT), at the 2022 World Cup on Monday, where Brazil, deprived of its star Neymar, seeks to catapult against Switzerland (16:00 GMT).

After eight days of competition, only one team had the right mix of results to progress to the next round, reigning world champion Kylian Mbappé’s France.

While Argentina revived their chances of qualification on Saturday, with Germany at stake after a draw with Spain on Sunday and Belgium and England suffering more than expected, the Portuguese Seleçao and their Brazilian counterparts will be hoping to score the opener on Monday .

‘CR7′ and his companions, who laboriously beat Ghana (3-2) in the first round, will have to open a breach in the wall of Uruguay, against which Fernando Santos’ team crashed in the round of 16 of the 2018 World Cup Russia (2-1). In the other match in Group H, Ghana take on South Korea (13:00 GMT).

At 37, an insatiable Cristiano Ronaldo continues to rack up honors and records, but ‘charrúas’ strikers Luis Suárez and Edinson Cavani (35 each) also want more, after the ‘Matador’ scored two goals at the Stadio Olimpico in Sochi four years ago, with the active collaboration of the ‘Gunslinger’ in both.

– Ronaldo starts “on the right foot” –

Among the great champions, rivalry does not prevent respect, as Cristiano Ronaldo testified by accompanying an injured Cavani on the sidelines in that early elimination of the Portuguese, then reigning European champions.

Time has passed, Cristiano Ronaldo is without a squad following the tumultuous termination of his Manchester United contract but the five-time Ballon d’Or winner is still focused on the World Cup, as his provoked and converted penalty on Thursday proved: he converted from a pass to the first player in history to score in five different World Cups.

“It’s a beautiful moment, my fifth World Cup, we won and we started off on the right foot,” said the Madeiran player, who is already looking forward to facing Uruguay at the Lusail stadium.

Will Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi be in the round of 16? That’s what Paris SG team-mate who won the Argentine Ballon d’Or seven times Marquinhos expects.

“Obviously we like to watch them play,” the Brazilian defender began on Sunday. “Messi isn’t just Argentinian, Ronaldo isn’t just Portuguese, which goes beyond nationalities. Everyone who closely follows the competition appreciates these players, they don’t just belong to their country but to the world of football.”

– Neymar in the infirmary –

Neymar also has international star status, but the Brazilian striker is currently in the infirmary due to a right ankle sprain suffered in the match against Serbia (2-0).

Brazil will face their second match of this World Cup without him on Monday against Switzerland at the 974 stadium.

“Neymar is a star, an extraordinarily talented player, but we have all our players,” downplayed Brazilian coach Tite, who has a spectacular offensive arsenal with Richarlison, Raphinha, Vinicius and Rodrygo.

But they will have to prove it against Switzerland (3 points), knowing that a victory for Brazil (3 points) would mean early qualification for the round of 16 if Cameroon didn’t beat Serbia earlier (10:00 GMT) in group G. Nati combined with a defeat or a draw by Serbia would instead take the Swiss to the next round.

And don’t lose sight of this Switzerland without complexes. Quarter-finalists of the last Eurocup after knocking out France, this rival has everything to put Brazil in trouble, who didn’t go from drawing to one against the Swiss in 2018.

“After the draw, I’m satisfied to be able to play against Brazil. It’s one of the reasons why I’m a coach,” said Swiss coach Murat Yakin, who believes in his chances: “This tournament has shown that surprises can happen. “

Jed/iga/dr

AFP extension