GO or STAY ?

Cristiano Ronaldo has made his mind up about his football future, but won't be revealing whether it is with Manchester United or Real Madrid for up to three days.

The Portuguese star, speaking after their 3-2 defeat to Germany in Thursday night's Euro 2008 quarter-final, said he was close to revealing his thinking.

"In two or three days' time I will announce my future because the tournament is over for me," he told the British Press Association.

"I have to speak to Manchester United and we will see. I will talk to them and see what happens. Everyone knows what I want but in the next two or three days you'll have something new."

Ronaldo told reporters the "possibilities" of going to Real Madrid were "great," but that it did not "always depend on me."

"I have many desires and in the next few days they will become clear."

He also revealed to the French newspaper L'Equipe that he was to undergo foot surgery for a minor problem.

"It is now three months I have played with this little foot problem."

United released a statement Friday reiterating that Ronaldo was not for sale.

"United are not listening to offers... the 23-year-old United star is not for sale,'" the statement said.

The winger has been the source of heated speculation about his future at Manchester United for months, with Real Madrid making clear they want to sign him at any cost.

United made a formal complaint to FIFA about Real Madrid's interest last week, but football's governing body said no regulations had been broken.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has criticized Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon and coach Bernd Schuster for what he considers heavy-handed tactics and use of the Spanish media to unsettle players.

The trigger for the protest was believed to have been Calderon's comments earlier this month about his "pride" and "honor" that Ronaldo wants to play for his club.

The 23-year-old Ronaldo scored 42 goals in helping Manchester United win both the English and European titles last season.

Portugal 2:3 Germany in quarter-fianl

Germany progressed to the semi-finals of the UEFA European Championship for the first time since 1996 as goals from Bastian Schweinsteiger, Miroslav Klose and Michael Ballack secured a 3-2 victory over Portugal in Basel.

Heads, you win
The Mannschaft ended up lifting the Henri Delaunay trophy that year and the way they raised their game to meet the challenge of a Portugal side that refused to lie down – halving a two-goal deficit twice through first Nuno Gomes and then, in the dying minutes, Hélder Postiga – augurs well for Joachim Löw's team. By contrast, it was a night when the worst fears of Portugal's Chelsea FC-bound coach Luiz Felipe Scolari were realised, his pre-match nightmares about Germany's aerial superiority materialising in the form of headed goals by Klose and Ballack. Portugal were semi-finalists in 2000 and runners-up in 2004 and Scolari had hoped to take that final step at UEFA EURO 2008™ but his farewell party fell flat at St. Jakob-Park, where Portugal were overpowered by opponents who shrugged aside impressively their occasional first-stage torpor.

Debt paid
With Simão probing down the right, Scolari's men appeared to be finding their stride as they offered the first threat on goal when Bosingwa crossed and João Moutinho, free of his marker but seemingly caught in two minds, steered the ball over at the near post with his knee. Yet in the 22nd minute they fell behind. It was a wonderfully worked goal too, swift passing between Philipp Lahm, Ballack and Lukas Podolski advancing the ball down the left, with Podolski bursting clear to drive in a low cross which Schweinsteiger converted with a sliding finish. Schweinsteiger's coach Löw had told the midfielder he had a "debt" to his team-mates after his red card against Croatia and here, in his first start of the finals, he resembled a man on a mission.

Scoring feat
Scorer of two goals against Portugal at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Schweinsteiger was the architect of their second here too, drifting a free-kick into the Portugal box which Klose, ghosting clear of the red shirts, headed past Ricardo. Raul Meireles replaced the injured Moutinho and Portugal went in search of a lifeline. It came via captain Nuno Gomes five minutes before the break. Simão's crossfield ball sent Ronaldo racing clear of Per Mertesacker down the inside-left channel and though Jens Lehmann blocked his shot, Gomes was first to the rebound, striking first time into the net via the foot of Christoph Metzelder, defending desperately on the line. It was Gomes's sixth goal on the European stage over three tournaments – a scoring span only achieved by Jürgen Klinsmann, Thierry Henry and Vladimír Šmicer before him.

Tense finish
Ronaldo was a whisker away from an equaliser moments before half-time, flashing the ball past Lehmann yet just wide of the far post. Deco did find the net shortly after the interval but was in an offside position and the little midfielder then flicked on a Simão corner to set up Pepe, only for the defender to nod over. Ballack showed him how it should be done in the 61st minute when – to the displeasure of his future manager – he shrugged off Chelsea FC team-mate Paulo Ferreira and beat Ricardo to another Schweinsteiger free-kick to head home. Scolari sent on Nani and Postiga as Portugal chased the game and the pair combined to ensure a nervy finale when Postiga headed in from Nani's left-wing delivery but the glimmer of hope was soon extinguished.

Portugal 3:1 Czech; Man of the match Cristiano

Man of the match Cristiano Ronaldo declared himself "very happy" after putting Portugal on the brink of a Euro 2008 quarter-final place.

The Portuguese overcame Czech Republic 3-1 at the Stade Geneve on Wednesday to move onto six points from two games in Group A.

Ronaldo and substitute Ricardo Quaresma struck second-half goals - the latter in stoppage time - to earn the victory after Libor Sionko had cancelled out Deco's opener.

"Our main aim was to get to next phase. I'm very happy to have helped my team-mates to win," said the Manchester United star.

"I managed to score, and my goal is dedicated to the Red Cross. I'm thinking about the children and that makes me very proud."

Ronaldo acknowledged his team had struggled to assert themselves in the first half but was pleased with how they worked together to clinch the win.

"We played very well, although Czech Republic played very well in the first half," said the 23-year-old.

"It was very difficult to penetrate their defence. Portugal have played well in the first match and well again in this match as a team.

"We know how to sacrifice everything for the good of the team. We have now got a big chance but must respect our opponents because they too have a mission - they want to win as we do.

"If we carry on playing like this, we have a good chance."

Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari admitted he was surprised with the decision of opposite number Karel Bruckner to start with Milan Baros up front rather than Jan Koller.

"It was a surprise for me because we had planned to play against a starting XI that would include Koller," said the Brazilian tactician.

"The fact Baros was there didn't make life easy. We faced difficulties because they had four or five in midfield and we had two wingers so we didn't know what to do."

The victory maintains Portugal's 100% start following their opening-day win over Turkey.

The Czechs - who beat co-hosts Switzerland 1-0 in the curtain-raiser - now have to wait until Sunday to clinch a last-eight spot when they face Fatih Terim's Turks.

Bruckner felt his changes were the right decisions but just rued the fact his team ran out of gas after the break.

"I made two changes and I think they played pretty well," he said.

"Some players fared better than against Switzerland. In the first half we proved we are a good team. We know how to play in defence and in attack.

"We had more chances to score than in the first match. There were serious problems in attack in the first match and that was not the case in this match."

Bruckner reserved special praise for Jaroslav Plasil as well as the two players he brought in - Baros and Marek Matejovsky.

He said: "Plasil was excellent and Baros also proved he is a high-quality player. Matejovsky played well in the first half and had enough strength in the first half.

"In the second half, we saw the team get a bit tired and our opponents put in a perfect performance in attack.

"They did not go for counter-attacking only - they were able to make perfect transitions from attack to defence.

"They played very well. But it's not over for us. We still have the third match and we are ready for that."

Portugal 2:0 Turkey; CR hit the bar

Cristiano Ronaldo was again the star of the show as Portugal defeated Turkey 2-0 in Euro 2008 Group A.

Those fearing a tight, tactical battle as is often the case early on in major tournaments would have been highly impressed by Portugal's attacking credentials as they overran their limited opponents, with Ronaldo once again the centre of attention.

He may not have got on the scoresheet - he came mighty close with a superb free-kick which came back off the post - but his ability to ghost past players and bring others into the game was just as crucial for Portugal as his goals have been for Manchester United.

But he was not the only Premier League star who shone, as Chelsea fans got a glimpse of what to expect from their new full-back Jose Bosingwa.

He has pace, power and strength, and looked a threat going forward too and Stamford Bridge punters could be in for a treat next season - Bosingwa could be the man to make the problematic right-back slot his own.

A man who tried, but ultimately failed in that position for the Blues is Paulo Ferreira. He performed solidly at left-back for the Portuguese, although he was never really tested by the Turks.

The same applies to Ricardo Carvalho who was his usual commanding self at the heart of the defence, as his marauding partner Pepe grabbed the headlines by opening the scoring.

Nani briefly shone from the bench for Portugal, but English fans will be hoping to see more of the silky skills of Simao next season.

The winger looks set to leave Porto, with Liverpool and Chelsea linked with a move, and he showed exactly why Europe's top clubs will be keeping an eye on him with some excellent touches and some killer passes.