Cristiano Ronaldo conceded that Sunday's 2-1 defeat to Serbia turned into "hard" but vowed that Portugal's hopes of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup are "nevertheless very lots alive."
Despite an early intention from Renato Sanches in Lisbon, an equaliser from Dusan Tadic and a ninetieth-minute Aleksandar Mitrovic header saw Serbia leapfrog Portugal to win Group A in World Cup qualifying.
Fernando Santos' guys ought to now undergo the play-offs in March if they may be to qualify for the showpiece tournament, even though captain Ronaldo reassured he still believes his side will qualify for Qatar.
"Football has shown us time and time once more that, at instances, it's miles the most winding paths that result in the maximum desired consequences," the 36-year-old posted on Instagram.
"Yesterday's end result was difficult, but no longer sufficient to get us down. The goal of being present at the 2022 World Cup remains very a good deal alive and we realize what we ought to do to get there. No excuses. Portugal [are] heading to Qatar."
Ronaldo scored six goals in seven games for his u . S . A . In qualifying, which protected a purpose against the Republic of Ireland that saw him turn out to be the all-time report goalscorer in international soccer, overtaking Iran's Ali Daei (109).
Portugal 1-2 Serbia: The recreation of the night time within the Euro WCQ's saw Serbia sneak a final-gasp winner and an area at the 2022 WC finals at the price of Portugal in a tight affair in Lisbon.
Portugal head train Santos played down a gesture made through Ronaldo after the late defeat, insisting that his captain became referencing March's reverse fixture in Belgrade, in which the Manchester United forward turned into now not provided a stoppage-time intention no matter the ball performing to go the line inside the 2-2 draw.
"Nobody was explaining anything," Santos instructed newshounds while requested about Ronaldo. "He changed into telling the alternative guy that there [in Serbia] he had scored a goal on the closing minute and that the referee did not remember.
"That's what he became saying on the time. It wasn't a matter for us to be there now. On the field, he stated that we scored a purpose there and the referee failed to, however it's his outburst. It's flawlessly ordinary."
