How did Portugal do in the last World Cup that Cristiano Ronaldo wasn't in the team?

This Portuguese team, which has become such a candidate for all titles in the last 15 years, has also had its difficult moments throughout history. Perhaps without the emergence of Cristiano Ronaldo we could not be talking about the Portuguese team winning the Euro 2016.

The last international tournament in which the Portuguese had to participate without the presence of Cristiano Ronaldo was the 2002 World Cup in Korea. In that group stage they faced South Korea, the United States and Poland.

They began their career in the World Cup with a defeat against the United States that left them in a delicate position to advance to the next round. On the second day they faced Poland and did their homework, with a resounding victory by the Portuguese team that restored hope to all the fans. On the last day they fell by the minimum against the host: South Korea.

These results forced them to go home in their own group stage without even qualifying for the round of 16. The starting eleven of the Portuguese team in that tournament was the following: Victor Baia, Paulo Bento, Rui Jorge, Jorge Costa, Frechaut, Petit, Joao Pinto, Fernando Couto, Luis Figo, Sergio Conceiçao and Pauleta.