Previous to the game Cristiano Ronaldo acknowledged the quality of team coached by Vicente del Bosque, but would not detract from Portugal and stressed they can win against Spain.

“I see Spain as a candidate to win the World Cup, but I have no fear of anything and we will try to win “said the Portuguese captain.

However, Portugal was with very little imagination in the pitch as Spain kept Pressuring the Portuguese defense to find the goal.

Brazil is going to face off against their Central American neighbor Chile in the next stage of the cup. Cristiano Ronaldo’s national team Portugal will clash against the red machine Spain in the next stage of the world cup.

Brazil will face off against Chile on June 28 and Portugal will also play against Spain on June 28. You can see both games at www.espn.go.com/espn3/

The result of the duel, held at Nelson Mandela Stadium in Port Elizabeth,is forcing both teams to win their next two matches, and by as many goals as possible.

Against Ivory Coast, Cristiano Ronaldo failed to break the goal drought suffered in Portugal for 16 months, increasing the pressure he feels about his influence on the game and results of the national team.

At the end both teams had some chances to score. However, the opportunities where wasted. The game resulted int a tie 0-0.

The Real Madrid star said in an interview published Sunday by the Portuguese newspaper. He was also asked about other topics such as gay marriage, the arrival of Jose Mourinho to the Bernabeu and the economic crisis in Portugal.

As for the World Cup, Cristiano considered that Portugal is in the toughest group, with Brazil, Ivory Coast and North Korea, and explained that his goal “is to win the first game to enter well in the competition.”

“It will not be easy, we all know, but we have everything we need to move forward. If we pass the group stage, 50 percent of the target will be fulfilled,” he said.

Now, on what will be his new coach at the club merengue Cristiano Ronaldo said he hopes to celebrate with him “many victories” and expressed that “Mourinho is a winner.”

The player also recognized that this year in Real Madrid he felt “frustrated and very sad” for not getting a championship, but predicted that next season will be different.

Cristiano also wanted to talk about his country, Portugal, and assess the present, regarding the recent approval of the gay marriage law. The Real Madrid star said that “all citizens must have exactly the same rights and duties.”

He also commented that he knows that “Portugal is in a period of a strong recession, times are not easy” but he added that this phenomenon is not unique to his country:”All Europe is in deep crisis,” he lamented.

I don’t play alone or do miracles. If the team is doing well, I trust that we will go far. With a strong group everything is possible” said Cristiano Ronaldo at his arrival in Covilha.The Portuguese footballer believes, that South Africa will reflect his experience and improvement.

“I will try my best, as I always do at the club and in my national team, I am motivated and I hope that the team is at it’s highest level so we can all make a good World Cup” said the Portuguese astro.

Cristiano Ronaldo has the same opinion as his team-mates for group G, which is composed of Portugal,Brazil, Ivory Coast, and North Korea and said that if we beat the Africans in the first game ” We will achieve 50 percent to move to the next phase.”

The Real Madrid player also accepted “without hypocrisy” that Portugal is not in the group of favorites for the title of the world cup in South Africa.”The others want to win. We never win and that is why we are not favorites, but the favorites don’t always win” said Cristiano Ronaldo.

Cristiano Ronaldo admitted that he was “concerned” with Pepe and his recovery from his injury and said that his presence in the world championship “would be decisive.”He added that the same view in relation to Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea), after his recent physical problems.

Cristiano Ronaldo opened the score with a penalty shot at the 22nd minute, but Yeste equalized at minute 40. The other goals were by Higuain, 77 ‘, Sergio Ramos, 79′, Karim Benzema, 81 ‘, and Marcelo, in the 88th minute.

The First 45 minutes where of real uncertainty. Real Madrid faced a team with historical coats of arms, but which have not served to stay afloat in recent seasons, where they lacked qualifications and preferences.

Despite the advantage in the score Bilbao did not change, Francisco Javier Yeste, with a powerful low shot beat Casillas to tie the game. Furthermore, Pellegrini had left on the bench Kaka and thus creativity,the weapon to the front of the game which caused lack of opportunities. Barn and Gago lacked inspiration, Cristiano Ronaldo was hardly noticed, Marcelo viewed was viewed with frustration.

The second half was another game in the Bernabeu. Real Madrid came out with the conviction marked with an attack that was led by Kaka. Iker Casillas had to work harder and look out for the constant bombardment of Bilbao. The match ended 5-1 in favor of Real Madrid. However, despite the victory Real Madrid is still in second place under the leader Barcelona.

The player has asked Kim to South Africa.
Although, close friends have advised Cristiano Ronaldo to stay away from the scandal and focus on football, he seems to not care.

Rolando’s team will face Ivory Coast on June 15.

Cristiano Ronaldo was going to play against the best player of the Lionel Messi. However, early comments made by Cristiano Ronaldo where about his team and Messi’s team playing as a whole rather than Cristiano vs Messi.

It was the at minute 33 when the “Pulga” or the flea opened the score by taking advantage of a superb pass by Xavi, which he then controlled with his chest inside the area and beat the goalkeeper Iker Casillas. The rest of the first half was tense, with few emotions in the area. Only three tunnels by Cristiano Ronaldo, Dani Alves and Marcelo, ripped sighs of the crowd.

However, the Merengues were close to a tie with a header from Xabi Alonso that went over the crossbar. Cristiano had the attitude, but he did not have the chances with a Barcelona defense that was organized.

Barcelona was devoted to control the ball in the second half and found the second goal with another brilliant pass from Xavi at minute 56, that left Pedro to a one on one with Casillas that ended in the second goal for Barcelona. The match ended 2-0 in favor of Barcelona that is now ahead of Real Madrid by 3 points

“I’m older than Messi because I am tall and wide,” joked Cristiano Ronaldo, who had expected questions about the Argentine after his last exhibition in Barcelona. “I think Messi is doing a phenomenal season, scoring many goals ” he said.

“I’m doing a good job in my first year in Spain. I am very happy and I want to continue helping my club. I’m sure in the coming years I will be the best,” he said showing humility. Cristiano asked not to approach the match between Real Madrid and Barcelona in a face to face with Messi. “Everyone talks about me and Messi, but we don’t play alone. It is not a duel between the two.”

Cristiano Ronaldo hoped that Messi will not repeat the exhibition that took place in the Champions League, scoring four goals against Arsenal to qualify Barcelona for the semifinals. “I hope that Messi can score many more goals, but not on Saturday.

He is good,but he does not play alone. His teammates have great merit as well. When I was named best player of the world in Manchester, I did not play alone. Without my team I was not the best, “he recalled.

Before the first two minutes, Real Madrid had two occasions for goal. The first ball in a controlled back to Higuain, but the Racing defense reacted well to cut of Argentinean and the second occasion was in a free-kick taken by Cristiano Ronaldo.

A misunderstanding between Pinillos and Arana was taken advantage of by Cristiano Ronaldo. Cristiano then raced deep into the area, where he did a bicycle and confused the defender Moratón. However, failing to stop Cristiano Ronaldo the Santander defender made a clear penalty that was materialized into a goal by the Portuguese winger.

With the game against Racing they timidly moved the lines forward giving Real Madrid more spaces, but Madrid lacked creativity in the midfield by the low contribution of Diarra which required a greater wear of Gago.

Guti who entered in the second half at minute 60 picked up the handle and increased ownership of Real Madrid, but with little danger. The Santander defense hated the Cristiano Ronaldo bikes, which was the whites only resource in attack until Guti focused a depth ball to Higuain, who left the limit of offside to beat the goalkeeper with a low shot, adjusted to the base of post.

The score could have increased by Real Madrid, with a shot from Guti that hit the post and with a clear miss of Cristiano Ronaldo. Nonetheless, the match ended 2-0 in favor of Real Madrid.