Portugal among favourites - Ronaldo Saturday, June 12, 2010
Portugal stuttered through qualification and required a play-off victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina to make the finals, but Ronaldo feels they are one of the few teams with the quality to win the tournament.
“There are six teams that can win the World Cup,” Ronaldo told Sport magazine. “And I would say that Portugal are definitely one of them.
“We have a great team with a lot of potential, but we have disappointed in the qualification.
“I’m sure that not many people expect much from us, but we can use that in a positive way.”
Over the past decade, Portugal have been one of the most consistent performers in international football, reaching the knockout stages of all bar one of their past five appearances in major championships, including a run to the semi-finals in Germany four years ago.
Portugal have been drawn in Group G alongside Brazil, Ivory Coast and North Korea, and Ronaldo insists that they cannot overlook any of their opponents.
“I don’t fear any team in the world, but I also have respect for every team, you can’t expect to win easily against a small opponent like in the past.
“We have a very tough group. I would say the World Cup winner could come from here.
The former Manchester United winger is also upbeat about England’s chances in the tournament.
“England is a strong team. They have a very experienced coach in Fabio Capello and he has built a lot of self-confidence back into the team.
“They have players good enough to win the title, but they have to prove that they can play together as a team.”
Portugal defeated England in a penalty shoot-out en route to the last four in Germany and Ronaldo is relishing the prospect of renewing old rivalries should the teams meet in the knockout stages in South Africa.
“I’m sure that we have a good enough team to beat England. England has a strong defensive line and they are always difficult playing against.
“But we know how to play against a team like England and I don’t doubt that we would go through.”
