Ronaldo aims to end England hopes

Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo will be out to end England's dream of winning the World Cup when the two countries meet in the quarter-finals.

The Manchester United star hopes to overcome the thigh injury he sustained against Holland to play on Saturday.

"It is a special match because I play in England," he said. "I've been there for three years and I hope we can win."

"I've got a blue mark after the hit on my thigh. Let's see how it develops. The doctors will see on Monday."

Ronaldo had to be substituted during the first half of Portugal's 1-0 win over Holland in the last 16 after a crude challenge from Khalid Boulahrouz.

Portugal midfielders Deco and Costinha were sent off in the game and will now miss the England tie.

Sven-Goran Eriksson's side will be out to avenge their loss on penalties to Portugal at the same stage at Euro 2004.

But Portugal keeper Ricardo, who scored the winning penalty in the Euro 2004 shootout, was not impressed with England's display against Ecuador on Sunday.

He said: "We're going to meet England again in the quarter-finals and this time, I don't want to decide it on penalties.

"I don't even think that England deserved to win the game against Ecuador."
Portugal right-back Miguel believes it will be a conflict of styles.

"It is going to be a different type of game against England," he said after the win over the Dutch.
"They play more direct football. We like to pass the ball more. We will try to impose our game.

"The only match I remember as tense as the one against Holland was against England at Euro 2004 when we went on to win on penalties."

The two teams also met at the semi-final stage of the 1966 World Cup when England claimed a 2-1 victory over Eusebio and his team-mates, and famously went on to win the trophy.

But Portugal boss Luiz Felipe Scolari is determined to avoid a repeat as he looked ahead to steering the side to their best ever World Cup showing.

"Now I have to put a team together to face England, but with a few problems," he said.

"But that's part of my job. I've got 23 players, two cannot play, but Cristiano has got five or six days and he will probably recover."

Scolari added: "We want our exploits to go beyond what the country did in 1966."

From : BBC