Figo and Ronaldo in doubt for semi-final
Captain Luis Figo is in doubt for Portugal’s World Cup semi-final with France while Cristiano Ronaldo is also struggling to regain fitness, coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has revealed.
Figo picked up a thigh strain in Portugal’s quarter-final win over England and was replaced four minutes from the end of regular time in a match that went to penalties.
Ronaldo, who scored the decisive penalty that ended English dreams, played with a thigh injury he picked up against the Netherlands and complained that the problem slowed him down in the later stages of the match.
“Figo and Cristiano have been training well. They know they have problems and we need to check how they are to see if they can play,” said Scolari.
“The possibility is that Cristiano has a bigger chance and Figo a little bit less.
“But we can’t say anything before the training session tonight.”
While both men trained at the Allianz Arena Tuesday, they did so apart from the rest of the squad, jogging and stretching but not getting involved in the team’s practice match.
Scolari, who coached Brazil to the 2002 World Cup, will be buoyed though by the return from suspension of midfield playmaker Deco and his minder Costinha.
Portugal have never before been beyond the World Cup semi-finals, losing to England 2-1 in 1966 the last time they progressed that far.
Source:Soccer News
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