Sections of the media criticised the performance of Fabian Schar as the Newcastle United ace was taken off at half-time for Switzerland on Tuesday night.

The Lowdown: Switzerland demolished

Switzerland were demolished 6-1 in the end by Portugal in the last-16, as Benfica's Goncalo Ramos managed to grab himself a hat-trick starting in place of Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Swiss found themselves 2-0 down at half-time, and Schar, who also started the game, was replaced before the second half.

The Latest: Schar criticised

Taking to Twitter during the first 45, Magpies podcaster Taylor Payne claimed that Schar was having a 'stinker' of a performance.

The Shields Gazette journalist Dominic Scurr added that the 30-year-old was 'disappointing', although did share that Swiss manager Murat Yakin said that Schar had been suffering from 'illness' leading up to the match.

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The Verdict: Back to Newcastle

Schar will now be heading back to St. James' Park, where he can link up again with Eddie Howe and the squad and prepare for the Premier League season to resume.

The Portugal defeat was one to forget for the centre-back, who found himself booked in the 43rd minute, and failed to make any interceptions, giving the ball away cheaply on seven occasions, per SofaScore.

Nonetheless, he was the Tynesiders' fifth-best performer in the top-flight before heading to the World Cup, and will be looking to rekindle his club form as the Toon look to cement a UEFA Champions League place for next term.