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Page last updated at 21:48 GMT, Sunday, 8 November 2009

Ronaldo named in Portugal squad

Cristiano Ronaldo
Ronaldo suffered further ankle damage against Hungary in October

Cristiano Ronaldo has been named in Portugal's 23-man squad to face Bosnia in the two-legged World Cup play-offs despite an ongoing ankle injury.

The forward has missed the last seven games for his club Real Madrid and is expected to be out of action for at least two more weeks.

But Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz hopes the ex-Manchester United star can play a part in the 14 and 18 November ties.

Ronaldo injured the ankle in September and aggravated it again in October.

Queiroz said on Friday he would call up the winger to help Portugal "even if just for a few minutes".

But on Sunday, Real Madrid director general Jorge Valdano said that playing Ronaldo now would be a serious mistake.

606: DEBATE

"You have to remember that he injured himself again playing for Portugal and so he's a long way from being a player who lacks commitment," he said.

"Perhaps it's an excess of commitment (that) has put us in this situation. Making the same mistake again would be a great deal more serious."

Valdano added that Real Madrid would be sending all the information on the injury to Portugal's doctors on Monday.

Portugal, World Cup semi-finalists in 2006, play Bosnia in Lisbon and then Zenica four days later, with the winners qualifying for the 2010 finals in South Africa.


Portugal squad:

Goalkeepers: Hilario (Chelsea), Eduardo (Sporting Braga), Rui Patricio (Sporting Lisbon).

Defenders: Ricardo Costa (Wolfsburg), Bruno Alves (FC Porto), Paulo Ferreira (Chelsea), Miguel (Valencia), Pepe (Real Madrid), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea), Rolando (FC Porto).

Midfielders: Deco (Chelsea), Duda (Malaga), Joao Moutinho (Sporting Lisbon), Fabio Coentrao (Benfica), Miguel Veloso (Sporting Lisbon), Raul Meireles (FC Porto), Tiago (Juventus).

Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Liedson (Sporting Lisbon), Nani (Manchester United), Hugo Almeida (Werder Bremen), Simao Sabrosa (Atletico Madrid), Edinho (Malaga).



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see also
Ronaldo injury misery continues
04 Nov 09 |  Europe
Republic face France in play-offs
19 Oct 09 |  Internationals
Who has qualified for South Africa 2010?
19 Nov 09 |  Internationals
Rooney revels in Ronaldo struggle
09 Oct 09 |  Internationals


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