70 pc of Portugal fans want Ronaldo dropped for their last-16 clash against Switzerland

Portugal coach Fernando Santos expressed his unhappiness at Ronaldo's attitude

ITDC INDIA EPRESS/ ITDC NEWS A poll published by a Portuguese newspaper said that 70 percent of the fans want Cristiano Ronaldo dropped for their last-16 World Cup tie versus Switzerland. Sports newspaper A Bola reveals that just 30 percent opted to keep Ronaldo.

The newspaper gave two options "yes or no" and the overwhelming majority of the reades in his home country said "no".

While the majority wanted the captain to be benched by the national team those who defended Ronaldo commented that in Portugal we have a leader, a champion and a winner.

Ronaldo was dropped a day after Portugal coach Fernando Santos expressed his unhappiness at the striker's attitude after he was substituted against South Korea in the team's final group game.

Ronaldo's body language indicated the superstar was annoyed at being taken out of the game something Portugal coach Fernando Santos remained silent about for nearly three days.

Finally in his Monday news conference, Santos conceded Ronaldo's attitude in the game against South Korea was the one distraction of many that had pushed him too far.

Before Portugal's first match of the World Cup, Ronaldo cut ties with Manchester United and is reportedly being wooed by a Saudi Arabian team with the promise of an exorbitant paycheck, and a poll in Portugal showed that fans in his home country wanted the superstar dropped from the lineup.

I didn't like it, not at all. I really didn't like it, Santos said Monday of Ronaldo's poor attitude at being taken out of the game against South Korea. We fixed that in-house and that's it.

 With Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench, the superstar striker's replacement scored a hat trick to lead Portugal over Switzerland 6-1 and into the World Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday.