Overview
- Bruno Fernandes and João Neves scored hat-tricks in Porto as Portugal overwhelmed Armenia 9-1 to clinch top spot in Group F.
- Cristiano Ronaldo missed the match under an automatic one-game suspension after a VAR red card for elbowing Dara O’Shea against Ireland.
- FIFA’s disciplinary committee is assessing the incident and could extend the suspension into Portugal’s World Cup opener, with a decision expected after the November window.
- FPF president Pedro Proença said the federation has prepared a legal case to keep any additional punishment as minimal as possible.
- Coach Roberto Martinez insisted Portugal are better with Ronaldo, even as statistical debates continue over the team’s output without him, and qualification secured a seventh straight World Cup appearance.