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Rediff.com  » Sports » World Cup chit-chat: Ronaldo fit for Portugal's Germany testWorld Cup chit-chat: Ronaldo fit for Portugal's Germany test
This article was first published 10 years ago

World Cup chit-chat: Ronaldo fit for Portugal's Germany testWorld Cup chit-chat: Ronaldo fit for Portugal's Germany test

Last updated on: June 16, 2014 12:21 IST

Image: Cristiano Ronaldo (left) of Portugal stretches with teammate Raul Meireles as they practice
Photographs: Ray Stubblebine/Reuters

World Player of the Year, Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, said he had nothing more to prove in his career as he declared himself fit for Monday's World Cup Group G match against Germany.

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Ronaldo's fitness had been in doubt after struggling with tendinosis in his left knee, and despite training on Sunday with the injured area taped up, the goal machine said his niggles were all in the past.

"I've been practising now for some days and if I'm doing that it is because I am feeling well," Ronaldo told reporters.

"If I am not ready I am the first to tell the coach I don't want to play and I can't play. If I feel anything during the match, which I am sure I won't, I'll be the first to say."

Despite scoring an avalanche of goals in club competitions along with claiming the game's top club titles and trophies, Ronaldo has just two goals in 10 World Cup matches.

One was a penalty against Iran in 2006, and the other the last strike in a 7-0 drubbing of North Korea in 2010.

- ...

'I don't think I have to show anyone anything'

Image: Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (centre) warms up during a training session
Photographs: Mike Segar/Reuters

Asked if a great World Cup was what was lacking in his glittering career, the 29-year-old responded emphatically.

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"I don't think I have to show anyone anything. If you look at my statistics and my resume...I have no words for that question," he told a packed news conference.

"I think I do not have to demonstrate anything, not now, before, not after. What I have to do is just continue my career, which has been great so far."

Ronaldo credited the strength and depth of Portugal's opponents Germany ahead of their clash at the Fonte Nova arena in Salvador, but said that respect for the opposition must be ignored once the game starts.

"I am confident we will start off on the right foot," Ronaldo said, before firing a warning that could spell a busy afternoon for Germany's defence.

"I am ready, I am feeling well, and I really want to have a great World Cup."

- ...

No national anthems played for France-Honduras tie

Image: Wilson Palacios of Honduras (No 8) receives a red card from referee Sandro Ricci of Brazil
Photographs: Marko Djurica/Reuters

The World Cup Group E clash between France and Honduras got off to a bizarre start as the national anthems for both sides were not played before kick-off.

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According to AFP, both teams lined up for the anthems as usual but were then instructed by the referee to go through the protocol of shaking hands when no music for the anthems began.

The players then had to wait for several minutes till the game could start at the scheduled 4pm (1900 GMT) kick-off time.

A FIFA spokesman was unable to immediately give an explanation as to why the anthems hadn't been played.

...

Brazil's Hulk fit for Mexico clash

Image: Hulk (left) jokes with Luis Gustavo during a training session of the Brazilian national football team at the squad's Granja Comary training complexin Teresopolis, 90 km from downtown Rio de Janeiro on Saturday
Photographs: Buda Mendes/Getty Images

Brazil striker Hulk limped out a training session on Sunday morning but said his injury was not serious and he expects to be fit for the World Cup Group A match against Mexico on Tuesday.

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Hulk scored a goal in the practice game but limped off moments afterwards looking downcast.

"I felt a niggle and came off as a precaution," he told reporters shortly before the squad was due to fly 1,350 miles to the northern city of Fortaleza.

"I am good, I am happy and I hope to be 100 percent in two days for the next game. I hope it wasn't anything serious, I feel good.

"It's a normal pain," he added. "If I feel anything at all I come off to treat it."

Hulk had a similar issue ahead of the opening 3-1 win over Croatia last week but he played 68 minutes before being replaced by Bernard.

The burly striker, who is nicknamed after the comic book hero, has been a favourite of Luiz Felipe Scolari and is looking forward to playing in Fortaleza.

"I am from the northeast and my family is going to be there," he said. "It is a game that I don't want to miss. I want to play and I am going to be ready, God willing."

- ...

Colombia complain to FIFA about security harassment

Image: Players of the Colombia football team
Photographs: Paul Gilham/Getty Images

Colombia complained to FIFA that a Brazilian security detail was harassing their delegation and delaying the team's movements to the point of making them arrive late for their first World Cup match against Greece on Saturday.

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In a letter sent to FIFA after the game, Colombia's Soccer Federation said the hostility of the Brazilian federal police team assigned to them was causing discomfort among players and technical staff.

"They have torpedoed Colombia's movements, taking the team at a very slow speed," team spokesman Mauricio Correa told Reuters.

"Because of this situation yesterday we were late for the match ... It was intentional."

Despite the problems, Colombia had no trouble overpowering Greece 3-0 at the Mineirao stadium of Belo Horizonte.

Back in Sao Paulo, where the team are based for the tournament, new rifts erupted with the security detail.

"There were not so kind words on their part and some members of our delegation were pushed over," Correa said, stressing no players were involved in the incident.

He said that after the formal complaint FIFA replaced the security team and things were now back to normal.

Colombia face Ivory Coast on Thursday in Brasilia. Their last Group C game is on June 24 against Japan.

- ...

 

Tighter security promised after Chile fans let of fireworks during win over Australia

Image: Chile fans cheer during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group B match between Chile and Australia at Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba on Friday
Photographs: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Promises have been made to dispatch tighter security at World Cup stadiums after Chile fans let off fireworks when their team sealed their victory over Australia.

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Brazil's organising committee spokesman Saint-Clair Milesi said that it aims to make security even more rigorous, adding that the incident in Cuiaba is not acceptable for fans and for organisers, Stuff.co.nz reported.

Chile fans lit firework that sent plumes of smoke across the Arena Pantamal pitch after Jean Beausejour scored in stoppage time of a 3-1 win. FIFA has banned fireworks and flares from stadiums and requires tournament organizers to enforce security checks in order to prevent fans smuggling them in, the report added.