Cristiano Ronaldo faces a late fitness test ahead of the South Korea clash despite returning to training…with Portugal’s ’50-50′ star to play in their last World Cup group stage match World.
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Cristiano Ronaldo could miss Portugal’s final group game as the striker faces a late form test ahead of Friday’s clash against South Korea.
Head coach Fernando Santos said Ronaldo was a doubt ahead of Portugal’s training session on Thursday afternoon, but insisted they have planned for his possible absence.
‘Let’s see (if he’s fit). In principle, Ronaldo will train soon’, Santos said. I don’t even know if it’s 50/50. Cristiano was substituted in both games. There’s a plan in case he can’t play.
Cristiano Ronaldo returned to Portugal’s training ahead of the game with South Korea
The Portugal star was all smiles, although he is ’50-50′ to appear in Portugal’s game on Friday.
Ronaldo is one behind Portuguese icon Eusebio’s record of nine World Cup goals for the nation, but the striker thought he had equaled that in a 2-0 win over Uruguay.
He celebrated the first goal of the night after believing that he had headed in a Bruno Fernandes cross against Sergio Rochet.
But FIFA attributed the goal to Fernandes and “highly accurate” data taken from a sensor inside the ball later showed that Ronaldo had not made contact.
Ronaldo has been absent from training amid speculation of a move to Saudi side Al Nassr
Portugal has already qualified for the round of 16 with Ronaldo starting his first two games
Santos was asked if he or Ronaldo had asked for Ronaldo to be given the goal, given the striker’s obsession with records.
‘Me? Who am I going to ask? I don’t know anyone from FIFA, nor did the team ask.
“It was a goal for the team and that’s what’s important.”
Portugal only needs one point to top Group H, but South Korea must win to have any chance of reaching the round of 16.
Adidas technology inside its Al Rihla ball shows Ronaldo did not receive a touch on the cross
.
