Portugal face 'impossible' task

CRISTIANO Ronaldo's Portugal face a sobering early World Cup exit tonight even if their World Footballer of the Year produces pyrotechnics in their final group game against Ghana.

The Real Madrid player came to the World Cup bracketed alongside Argentina's Lionel Messi and Brazil's Neymar as one of a triumvirate of true global superstars.

But while the Barcelona pair have produced moments of sublime skill and goals, the attention surrounding Ronaldo has mainly focused on the health or otherwise of his troublesome left knee.

Portugal – fourth in the Fifa world rankings – are rock bottom of Group G with a solitary point from their matches against Germany and the United States, both of whom have four points.

They were pummelled 4-0 by Germany and the fact they still have any chance of progressing at all is down to Ronaldo, who delivered a sublime cross for their equaliser in a 2-2 draw against the US.

Despite that goal, headed in by Silvestre Varela, the cold reality is that if the US and Germany draw in Recife, Portugal and Ghana, who also have one point, are doomed.

Portugal have insisted throughout the tournament that their star player is fit but he has failed to dominate matches in the way he does for his club and admitted that his side's task is virtually impossible. – AFP