World Cup

Injured Cristiano Ronaldo In Portugal Squad For Play-offs

Real chiefs are fuming at the selection of their injured player.

Nov 8, 2009 3:56:33 PM

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Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal (PA)

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True to his word, Portugal national team coach Carlos Queiroz has called Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo into the squad for the upcoming World Cup play-off against Bosnia.

Despite Ronaldo's ankle injury, which has ruled him out of first team action with Real Madrid since the end of September, Queiroz declared late last week that he would pick his captain in the hope that he would be able to play just a few minutes of the play-off, ignoring suggestions from the Spanish capital that Ronaldo will not be fit for either leg.

Real Madrid director general Jorge Valdano has reiterated his belief that Ronaldo should not have played for Portugal against Hungary in the game which aggravated his injury and warned that should the Portuguese risk the fitness of their star player again it will be a serious issue.

"Remember that Cristiano damaged his ankle again playing for Portugal. So to make the same mistake again I would find something more serious," he said according to Goal.com Spain.

The Portugal squad in full for the upcoming qualifiers:

Goalkeepers: Hilario (Chelsea), Eduardo (Braga), Rui Patricio (Sporting).

Defenders: Ricardo Costa (VfL Wolfsburg), Bruno Alves (FC Porto), Paulo Ferreira (Chelsea FC), Miguel (Valencia), Pepe (Real Madrid), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea FC), Rolando (FC Porto).

Midfielders: Deco (Chelsea), Duda (Malaga CF), João Moutinho (Sporting), Fábio Coentrão (SL Benfica), Miguel Veloso (Sporting CP), Raul Meireles (FC Porto), Tiago (Juventus).

Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid CF), Liedson (Sporting CP), Nani (Manchester Utd), Hugo Almeida (SV Werder Bremen), Simao Sabrosa (Atletico Madrid) and Edinho (Malaga CF).

Paul Madden, Goal.com

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