FIFA WORLD-CUP QATAR 2022 (SMI-SPORTS-NOV. 20- DEC. 18, 2022)-The round of 16, of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, concluded today Tuesday Dec 06, with Portugal overpowering Switzerland 6-1, while Morocco from Africa outlasting Spain 3-0, in overtime penalty shoot-out , with both teams advancing to the quarterfinal rounds to be played next weekend in Qatar.

With these final results, the bracket of the quarterfinal rounds of the World Cup Qatar 2022, has been set with 8-teams advancing; Argentina, the Netherlands, Croatia, Brazil, England, France, Morocco, & Portugal.


Portugal 6- Switzerland 1:

Portugal's Goncalo Ramos scored a hat-trick in his debut as starter in a World Cup as the Navigators overpower Switzerland 6-1, in the round of 16, of the world Cup Qatar 2022,advancing to the quarterfinal rounds to face Morocco who shocked world-ranked#7 Spain 0-0(3-0) in penalty shoot-out next Saturday Dec. 10, at Thumana Stadium.

Head-Coach Fernando Santos decided to start young rising-star Goncalo Ramos instead of Super-Star Cristiano Ronaldo in the knockout stage against the Swiss, and it worked like a charm as the 21-year old did not disappoint when he scored the first goal of the game at 17th minute when inside the penalty area he shot a left-footed canon to the upper-left corner to  put Portugal in front 1-0, over Switzerland.

Both teams traded counter-attacks during the next  15' minute until Portugal found the back of the net once again to increase its lead of 2-0, at 33rd minute of the first half. Midfielder Bruno Fernandez through a corner kick centered the ball inside 6-yard box finding Pepe who leapt and scored with a header to the far goalpost to make it 2-0, for the Navigators over the Swiss at the half.

Portugal's defender Pepe with the goal scored at this game registered his second goal in world cup history with Portugal and became the second oldest player at 39 to score in a world-cup since Roger Milla from Cameroon in 1990.

In the second half , the the Navigators took control of game and went to the offensive from the start netting 2-goals in the span of 4th minute with Ramos scoring his second goal of the game at 51st minute and Raphael Guerreiro netting his first of the world cup at 55th minute to turn the game into a 4-0, rout in favor of Portugal over Switzerland.

In a counter-attack through the right-side pitch corner, defender Diogo Dalot crossed a rolling pass inside the penalty area finding Ramos who tapped the ball inside back of the net to make it 3-0, and 4-minutes later during a counter-attack through the middle, Ramos passed the ball to Raphael Guerreiro who inside the 18' shot a left-footed missile to make Portugal 4-0, over the Swiss.

Switzerland answered back with a goal to cut the deficit 4-1, Manuel Akanji scored at 58',when he received a centered pass through a corner kick to make it 4-1, in favor of the Navigators. 

Portugal kept the pressure and nine minutes later, Goncalo Ramos found the back of net for the third time to complete his hat-trick at 67th minute to make it 5-1, for the Navigators over the Swiss. On a break-away through the middle, Joao Felix passed the ball to Ramos who from inside the 18', flicked the ball over the Swiss' goalkeeper Yann Sommer ending inside back of the net and Rafael Leao added the six for Portugal at 90+2' stoppage time to sealed the 6-1, victory  of Portugal over Switzerland.


The Quarter-final rounds of the FIFA World-Cup Qatar 2022:

Friday Dec 09,   Brazil vs Croatia at 10:00am ET/US

Friday Dec 09,  Argentina vs Netherlands at 14:00pm ET/US

Saturday Dec 10, Morocco vs Portugal at 10:00am ET/US

Saturday Dec 10, England vs France  at 14:00am ET/US