Amongst all of the noise surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo, Pepe is still there for his captain.

The 39-year-old veteran defender has played in eight major international tournaments alongside Ronaldo. They also both played together in the same all-conquering Real Madrid side between 2009-17.

Jose Fonte
Portugal defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

Cristiano Ronaldo will always be Cristiano Ronaldo - the best there has ever been.

Let's not forget what he has done for us and who he still is.

Just the fact of him coming off the substitutes' bench gives the opposition problems.

As we discuss the future of one legendary international footballer, another calls time on his national career.

In the below post on Instagram, Eden Hazard has announced his retirement from international football.

He writes: "A page turns today. Thank you for your love. Thank you for your unparalleled support. Thank you for all this happiness shared since 2008. I have decided to put an end to my international career. The succession is ready. I will miss you."

The 31-year-old Real Madrid forward has 126 international caps, scoring 31 goals.

BBC Monitoring
The world through its media

Portuguese newspaper O Jogo noted Fernando Santos' earlier comments about Cristiano Ronaldo's place on the bench being "strategic, nothing more." The paper says, external the all-time top international scorer proved to be "a captain with a full hand."

Fellow daily A Bola also cited Santos' words about Ronaldo, external "continuing to be a very important player for Portugal". It concludes it is important that Santos added “I have a very close relationship with him”.

Ronaldo or not, the president was very happy, with Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa saying: “It was one of the best nights, that I can remember, of Portuguese football in a long time,” according to O Jogo.

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All cameras were trained on the face of 37-year-old Ronaldo at the final whistle.

This was the first time since 2008 that the Portugal captain had not started in a major tournament. Not only that, but the man who got the nod ahead of him - 21-year-old Benfica forward, Goncalo Ramos - went and bagged a hat-trick.

Portugal manager, Fernando Santos had criticised Ronaldo's reaction when he was substituted during the final group stage match against South Korea.

Despite all of that, Ronaldo's teammates were keen to play down any notion of ill feeling in the camp.

When media asked Bruno Fernandes whether five-time Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldo was happy not to be involved, his former Manchester United teammate argued that even the third-choice keeper is probably not happy to be on the bench.

"So, you think Cristiano would be happy?” he countered.

“If the manager in the next game put me on the bench, I would be angry,” Fernandes, 28, added.

Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva, 28, also praised Ronaldo's attitude, saying, “He showed a great personality inside the dressing room. And he was fine.”

Ramos, who replaced Ronaldo, concurred with this point of view. "Honestly, in our team, no one talked about it,” he said, adding, “Cristiano, as our captain, did what he always does, he helped us. He encouraged us.”

Image source, Getty Images

England's potential route to the World Cup final has become clearer with the last eight now confirmed.

Beat France on Saturday and Gareth Southgate's side will set up a semi-final a week today against either Morocco or Portugal.

One of Netherlands, Argentina, Brazil or Croatia would await in the final.

There's plenty of historical heartbreak in that mix - at least Germany are out.

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The Portugal captain had a rollercoaster evening.

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Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer in Doha

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Cristiano Ronaldo was reduced to the role of the superstar nobody wants after Portugal followed Manchester United's lead in deciding they might just be better off without him.

And better off without him they certainly were as Portugal rewarded coach Fernando Santos's courage in dropping his country's sporting icon with the complete attacking performance and a 6-1 win over Switzerland that sets up a World Cup quarter-final against Morocco.

Santos was not only vindicated for his decision to axe Ronaldo after publicly criticising his gestures when he was substituted in the last group game against South Korea, he hit the jackpot as his young replacement Goncalo Ramos looked the real deal in hitting a superb hat-trick.

It has been a bruising time for 37-year-old Ronaldo's considerable pride and ego as first his Manchester United career ended in acrimony following public criticism of the club and now Portugal did what was previously unthinkable - at least going as far back as 31 games and before Euro 2008 - and ditched him from a starting line-up at a major tournament.

This was certainly the bravest selectorial call of this World Cup and the biggest of Santos's eight-year time in charge of Portugal.

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We're lauding Goncalo Ramos and Portugal this morning but we have to address the elephant in the room.

Dave wasn't happy at the mere mention of Cristiano Ronaldo earlier.

Image source, Reuters

But what do you make of the Portugal legend's situation?

Let us know your thoughts.

In case you missed it.

Manchester City and Portugal attacking midfielder Bernardo Silva, praised his team's "great display and energy".

On a dream full debut for Goncalo Ramos, he added: "Let's go kid."

Image source, Reuters

53 hat-tricks have now been scored in World Cup history.

But who was on target for the last 10?

Test your knowledge over here.

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Goncalo Ramos is the first player to score a hat-trick on his first World Cup start since Miroslav Klose in 2002.

Klose went on to become the top scorer in World Cup history so that's some footsteps to follow in.

Sprightly.

When Portugal coach Fernando Santos took the decision to demote Cristiano Ronaldo to the bench for the match, he could not have hoped for a better outcome.

Not only did his side score six goals in a World Cup knockout match, but the young man he called upon to step up delivered three goals on the biggest night of his career.

At 21 years and 169 days old, Goncalo Ramos is the youngest player to score a World Cup hat-trick since Hungary's Florian Albert in 1962.

Portugal's win was enough to push them to third favourites for the World Cup with a 13% chance of winning it, according to sports analysis experts Gracenote.

The most likely final, in their view, is Brazil against Portugal which has an 11.9% chance of happening.

Pre-tournament favourites Brazil now have a 25% chance of winning the World Cup while Argentina remain second at 20%.

Apparently, England have a 10% chance of winning, behind both the Netherlands and France (11%).

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In yesterday's other game, Portugal demolished Switzerland to reach the last eight.