LISBON (AFP) - Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz expressed his confidence on Tuesday that Real Madrid striker Cristinao Ronaldo would be fit for key World Cup qualifiers against Hungary and Malta on October 10 and 14 respectively.
Ronaldo missed Real Madrid's first Liga loss of the season at Seville last weekend with an ankle injury.
But Queiroz believes he will be fit and included him along with Rangers midfielder Pedro Mendes and Malaga striker Edinho among his 24-man squad.
Queiroz put his side through their paces at Obidos on Tuesdsay with six players missing because of fitness worries.
Portugal, who are third in Group One with 13 points, need to win both matches and for second-placed Sweden to slip up in Denmark, to book their ticket to South Africa.
Goalkeepers: Beto (FC Porto), Eduardo (Sporting Braga), Rui Patricio (Sporting Lisbon)
Defenders: Jose Bosingwa (Chelsea/ENG), Bruno Alves (FC Porto), Paulo Ferreira (Chelsea/ENG), Cesar Peixoto (Benfica), Pepe (Real Madrid/ESP), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea/ENG), Rolando (FC Porto)
Midfielders: Deco (Chelsea/ENG), Duda (Sevilla/ESP), Joao Moutinho (Sporting Lisbon), Nuno Assis (Vitoria Guimaraes), Miguel Veloso (Sporting Lisbon), Raul Meireles (FC Porto), Tiago (Juventus/ITA), Pedro Mendes (Rangers/SCO)
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid/ESP), Liedson (Sporting Lisbon), Nani (Manchester United/ENG), Nuno Gomes (Benfica), Simao (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Edinho (Malaga/ESP)
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Ronaldo has ankle joint inflamation plus torn ligaments. If he plays on the 10th October and the 14th against Malta he will only injur himsef more and the injury will become more serious. If someone tackles him and hurts him in the same area it will probably put him out of La Liga and the Champions League for the next few months. Cristiano is taking a huge risk to play, the manager of Portugal won't care how he performs for Real Madrid in Spain and in Europe, he is just interested in him playing for Portugal. Barcelona will just love it if Ronaldo is out of the game.
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