Cris looks for birthday win over world champs

Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo said on Monday he was looking forward to a birthday present in the form of a friendly win over world champions Italy.

The Manchester United winger turned 23 on Tuesday and admitted that a win "would make a nice present."

He explained: "For my birthday I would have liked to be with my family but the national team is like a second family and so a victory over Italy would make a nice present, especially since Portugal have not beaten Italy for 31 years."

Since that win in Lisbon in a friendly Italy have won nine and drawn one game, conceding just three goals in the process.

Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said he would not hear of the game being just a warm-up for the European Championships.

"For me, against Italy, I want to win. We don't have a great record against them. We must change that."

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