Monday, November 19, 2007

CR is main man for Scolari




Cristiano Ronaldo will be crowned the heir to Portugal legend Eusebio before trying to inspire his country to the brink of the Euro 2008 finals by beating Armenia tonight.

Manchester United superstar Ronaldo, 22, wins his 52nd cap for his country in the Group A encounter in Leiria - and he will be presented with a commemorative plaque by Eusebio before kick-off to mark reaching his half-century earlier this year.

Eusebio is regarded as Portugal's greatest-ever player after scoring 41 goals in 64 appearances and helping them to the 1966 World Cup semifinals - but Portugal skipper Ronaldo, with 20 goals in 51 games, is now being mentioned in the same breath.

A win would all but guarantee Luiz Felipe Scolari's team a spot in the tournament next summer - and many of Ronaldo's Manchester United team-mates will be looking on enviously if England miss out and Portugal get there.

Big Phil's men face Finland - who are three points behind second-placed Portugal going into today's games - on Wednesday in Porto, where a point will be enough if they have beaten Armenia.

Ronaldo said: "These games are two finals, two games that we have to win. The team is prepared and the spirit is the same as ever, one of friendship and professionalism.

"We have had the chance to study the Armenia team on DVD, and we hope that everything goes well. I want to score goals and to set them up for others." Ronaldo is now the main man for his country following the retirement of Luis Figo after the 2006 World Cup, while veteran playmaker Rui Costa is also now out of the picture.

He has been in stunning form throughout the qualifying campaign, hitting eight goals to put Scolari's side in a great position to reach their fifth successive major tournament.

As Ronaldo's influence for United has grown, he has become the man on whom Portugal fans pin their hopes as they try to land a first major trophy.

Portugal will be without Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho, who is out for a month with a back injury.

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