Under FIFA regulations the final decision on whether to travel rests with the player… Real Madrid are determined not to let Cristiano Ronaldo travel to Portugal to link up with his international team-mates for their World Cup play-off and under FIFA regulations appear to be within their rights to do so, as long as there is an agreement. Ronaldo’s last foray with the international side last month resulted in him aggravating an ankle injury against Hungary which has resulted in [...]

Portugal’s physio insists Ronaldo was fit for the Hungary game… Portugal coach Carlos Quieroz believes he will have no worries over the fitness of captain Cristiano Ronaldo for the World Cup play-offs in November. Ronaldo suffered a recurrence of an ankle injury while playing for the national side against Hungary last weekend and is set to miss between three and four weeks of action for Real Madrid as a result but Quieroz is confident he will return in plenty of [...]

Carlos Queiroz after the Portugal-Hungary match Realmadrid.com / Translation by Michael J. O’Donnell It seemed Cristiano Ronaldo had recovered from his ankle injury before the Portugal-Hungary clash. The Portuguese star was a starter. “I felt this was going to be one of those special Cristiano Ronaldo days,” said coach Carlos Queiroz. “Unfortunately he had to stop playing.” The forward had to leave the pitch on the 26-minute mark, but he had already been decisive by creatting the play from which [...]

The Federacao Portuguesa de Futebol (FPF) confirmed the FIFA World Player of the Year would be sidelined as Portugal seek the home victory that will secure a play-off berth. “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,” the FPF said in a statement. Cristiano Ronaldo has been ruled out of Portugal’s final World Cup qualifier against Malta on [...]

Situation Affect Him – Real Madrid Coach Pellegrini ‘CR9′ must not be distracted by thoughts of going to the World Cup, or rather not going… Manuel Pellegrini has sought to alleviate some of the pressure on Cristiano Ronaldo after Jorge Valdano said on Thursday that the Portuguese winger would be feeling anxious about Portugal’s World Cup fate. Portugal are currently in third place in Group 1, two points behind second placed Sweden with two games to go. “It should not [...]

For much of the summer I’ve ignored the possibility that next year’s World Cup could be played without two of the world’s top players, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. But with World Cup qualifying games set to resume this weekend, it’s hard to ignore the precarious qualifying positions of both Ronaldo’s Portugal and Messi’s Argentina. So, as we head into the weekend, let’s take a look at the challenges facing both national teams. Excuse the cliché but if the World [...]

I’ve added photos from the game Albania vs. Portugal yesterday. Portugal won this game which was very important to qualify to WM 2010 in South Africa.     Edit: I’ve added 3 more photos from the game. Big thanks goes to Gemma. (www.allriseforlee.com) Gallery links: Albania vs. Portugal 06/06/2009 [HQ]  

We have 2 new elite affiliates. These are 2 Lee Ryan fansites which are really great sites. So check them out. And I’ve added more photos from Portuguese training and the team arrived in Tirana yesterday.     Gallery links: Training Session in Praia d’El Rey04/06/2009 [HQ] Arriving at Tirana’s airport 05/06/2009 [HQ] Training Session at the Qemal Stafa stadium in Tirana 05/06/2009 [HQ]  

LISBON, March 28 (Reuters) – Portugal face an uphill struggle to reach the World Cup finals after wasting a host of chances in a 0-0 qualifying draw with Sweden on Saturday. With Group One’s joint leaders Denmark and Hungary posting away wins against Malta and Albania respectively, Portugal now have little room for error and must turn their attacking displays into victories to have any chance of progressing.Denmark have 10 points from four matches, the same haul as Hungary who [...]