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Cristiano Ronaldo needs to avoid an upset like the one that ruined Italy’s hopes of qualifying for the World Cup in Qatar, with a spot on the line for what may be his fifth and final World Cup.
On Tuesday, Portugal plays North Macedonia in a winner-take-all match. North Macedonia stunned Italy last week, knocking the four-time winners out of the World Cup for the second time.
“North Macedonia has pleasantly surprised in a number of matches. But I don’t think they’ll catch us off guard tomorrow. Portugal will improve its performance, and we will qualify for the World Cup.” Portugal is attempting to qualify for a sixth consecutive World Cup, and Ronaldo is hoping to participate. Since 2004, he has competed in four World Cups and five European Championships, making this his tenth major competition in a row.
“We understand that if we win, we will qualify for the World Cup, and if we lose, we will be eliminated,” he stated.
“It is our obligation to maintain a positive attitude and win the game.” Everyone appears to be well-prepared and eager to perform at their best tomorrow.” Ronaldo is the only player to have scored in the finals of nine consecutive major competitions.
If Portugal fails to qualify for this year’s World Cup in Qatar, Ronaldo, the all-time leading scorer in men’s international soccer, will be 41 years old by the time the next tournament takes place.
The Manchester United striker refused to discuss the subject. Without him, there would be no World Cup.
“Without Portugal, there is no World Cup,” Ronaldo remarked.
“There are no distinct personalities here,” Ronaldo stated that he is beginning to receive frequent questions regarding his future and that he is the only one who can make that decision.
“I’ll keep playing if I feel like it,” he remarked.
“I won’t if I don’t.” Portugal qualified for the game against North Macedonia by defeating Turkey 3-1 in Porto on Thursday when the visitors wasted an 85th-minute penalty kick that could have erased a two-goal first-half lead. In injury time, the Portuguese scored their third goal.
After surrendering late and relinquishing a lead in the final group game against Serbia last year, Portugal was forced into the playoffs.
North Macedonia is attempting to reach the World Cup final for the first time, having earned independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991. It competed in the European Championship for the first time last year.
In Palermo on Thursday, Aleksandar Trajkovski scored an unexpected winner against Italy in the second minute of stoppage time. North Macedonia also defeated Germany in its European qualification group a year ago, when it came in second to the Germans.
For the match at the Estádio do Drago in Porto, Portugal coach Fernando Santos will have a more complete squad as defenders Pepe and Joo Cancelo return. After missing the game against Turkey, he is back. Cancelo was suspended when Pepe tested positive for COVID-19.
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