Ronaldo must sit and watch as Portugal fight to qualify

Tom Collomosse
12 Oct 2009

Cristiano Ronaldo will be an anxious spectator when Portugal take on minnows Malta in their final qualifier on Wednesday, knowing a victory would move him a step closer to a World Cup rematch with Wayne Rooney.

An ankle injury has ruled the Real Madrid star out of the fixture, which Portugal know they must win to secure a two-legged play-off against another of the European runners-up next month.

Ronaldo's famous wink to the Portugal bench after Rooney's sending-off in England's quarter-final defeat in Germany three years ago still rankles with fans in this country, and Rooney indicated last week that he would rather his former Manchester United team-mate were absent from the tournament in South Africa next summer.

But Portugal's 3-0 win over Hungary on Saturday, coupled with Sweden's 1-0 defeat in Denmark, means the 2006 semi-finalists will book a play-off spot if they beat the Maltese, who are 123 places below Portugal in the FIFA rankings.

They will have to achieve it without their best player, however.

Despite an ankle complaint, Ronaldo had insisted he was fit to start the Hungary game but the winger lasted only 27 minutes of the match before he was replaced by Nani.

Carlos Queiroz's men would still have to negotiate a two-legged tie against one of Europe's other second-placed sides next month, but even that prospect looked unlikely earlier this year after Portugal's poor start to their campaign.

Ronaldo was quickly ruled out of the fixture against Malta in Guimaraes and the Portugal captain has now returned to Madrid - but Queiroz will be hopeful that his most influential player can be back in action for the play-off matches on 14 and 18 November.

"After the medical examination and the failure to recover from the injury he has suffered in his right ankle, Cristiano Ronaldo was given permission to leave the Portugal national squad," read a statement from the Portuguese FA. "Therefore, the player cannot play the next match."

One of Ronaldo's main rivals for the title of the world's best player, Argentina forward Lionel Messi, also lived to fight another day after his country's incredible 2-1 win over Peru.

After Peru had equalised in the final minute, veteran striker Martin Palermo saved coach Diego Maradona's skin by scoring a stoppage-time winner - but Maradona's men still have work to do against fierce rivals Uruguay in Montevideo on Wednesday.

A victory for his jittery team would seal a place in next summer's finals and a draw would also be enough if Ecuador failed to gain a victory in Chile, who have already qualified.

But if Argentina lose and Ecuador win, Maradona's brilliant playing career would be tarnished by being the first coach unable to secure World Cup qualification for La Seleccion since 1970. "It was a miracle from Saint Palermo that gives us another life," said Maradona.

"We're going to go and play in Montevideo with all of our pride. We have to give our lives to try to qualify."

Messi's display against Peru was strangely subdued, bearing little resemblance to the form he has shown for Barcelona during the last 12 months but Maradona insisted: "I am not worried about Leo's form.

"I remember from my playing days that when you play in wind and rain in El Monumental Stadium - as we did on Saturday - it is difficult for technical players.

"For me, Leo is playing well and he will keep his place in my team."

Meanwhile, Fabio Capello may face a meeting with his countrymen in South Africa next summer after Italy progressed to the finals thanks to a 2-2 draw with Ireland in Dublin.

Three-times winners Germany also made sure of qualification with a 1-0 win in Russia, while Serbia's 5-0 demolition of Romania secured their passage and condemned France to the play-offs.