Cristiano ronaldo & irina Shayks @ madrid open

portugal 0 – 0 finland, Portugal for uero 2008

 

PORTO, Portugal (AP) – Portugal held Finland to a 0-0 draw Wednesday, securing a place in next year’s European Championships.

The 2004 finalists threatened throughout but couldn’t beat goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen, who denied Cristiano Ronaldo and Ricardo Quaresma on a number of chances.Portugal finished Group A with 27 points, while Finland – which needed a win to have any chance of reaching its first European finals – had 24.

Luiz Felipe Scolari returned to the bench after completing a two-month touchline ban imposed by UEFA for scuffling with defender Ivica Dragutinovic at the end of Portugal’s 1-1 draw with Serbia in September.

With midfield playmaker Deco of FC Barcelona and Werder Bremen’s Hugo Almeida among six players missing to injury, the weight of the attack fell on the shoulders of Ronaldo and Quaresma.

Scolari also handed Pepe his first start after the Real Madrid defender recovered from injury.

Ronaldo responded in the 11th, the Manchester United forward’s free kick stopped by Jaaskelainen.

Daniel Sjolund had Finland’s best chance of the first half on the counterattack in the very next minute, but Ricardo saved.

Quaresma wasn’t as sharp, however, shooting wide in the 26th then missing a chance up close in the 38th.

Quaresma hit the post in the 60th and missed again in the 81st before coming off for Nani three minutes later.

Both goalkeepers were sharp over the final period, Ricardo denying substitute Ariza Makukula in the 88th and Jaaskelainen stopping Nani two minutes into injury time as the hosts pressed.

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Lineups:

Portugal: Ricardo, Jose Bosingwa, Pepe, Fernando Meira, Bruno Alves, Marco Caneira, Miguel Veloso, Maniche (Raul Meireles, 73), Ricardo Quaresma (Nani, 84), Nuno Gomes (Ariza Makukula, 77), Cristiano Ronaldo.

Finland: Jussi Jaaskelainen, Sami Hyypia, Toni Kallio, Petri Pasanen, Hannu Tihinen, Markus Heikkinen, Joonas Kolkka (Jonatan Johansson, 75), Jari Litmanen (Mika Vayraminen, 67), Daniel Sjolund, Teemu Tainio (Alexei Eremenko Jr., 69), Mikael Forssell.
source: foxsports

Cristiano vs. poland

Portugal 2 Poland 2

Poland’s Jacek Krzynowek grabbed a late equaliser to deny Portugal a crucial victory in Euro 2008 Qualifying Group A on Saturday.

The visitors went ahead through Mariusz Lewandowski just before half-time but Maniche levelled for Portugal five minutes after the interval.

Cristiano Ronaldo looked to have sealed a precious win for Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side with 17 minutes remaining, but Krzynowek’s fortuitous late strike rescued a point for Poland.

Ronaldo and Simao Sabrosa caused problems for the Polish defence early on.

The latter blasted a free-kick against the wall after seven minutes as the hosts dominated the early exchanges.

Deco then found Nuno Gomes in the area with a wonderful pass on 26 minutes, but Artur Boruc saved well at the striker’s feet.

A minute later, Ronaldo fired a stinging drive against the bar as Scolari’s side continued to threaten.

But Poland also came close at the other end six minutes later, when Ebi Smolarek fired just over the bar.

A minute before half-time, the Poles did take the lead.

Ricardo parried Jakub Blaszczykowski’s shot from the edge of the area, but Lewandowski was at hand to smash home the rebound.

Portugal reacted quickly after the interval and got back on terms when Nuno Gomes got in behind the Polish defence to set up Maniche who gratefully fired past Boruc after the goalkeeper had failed to clear the danger.

Nuno Gomes almost added a second goal seven minutes later after good work from Jose Bosingwa, but this time Boruc was alert to the danger and intercepted well.

Nuno Gomes was then replaced by Ricardo Quaresma after 68 minutes and the change had an almost immediate impact.

Quaresma charged down the right and crossed for Simao.

The Atletico Madrid winger failed to connect with a header, but the ball fell kindly to Ronaldo, who smashed a volley past the helpless Boruc to put Portugal in front.

The Manchester United star’s effort looked enough to secure a win for the Portuguese, but with three minutes remaining Krzynowek smashed a long-range effort against the post with the ball rebounding into the net off Ricardo’s shoulder.

Teams:

Portugal Ricardo, Bosingwa, Fernando Meira, Bruno Alves,Caneira (Miguel 12), Deco, Maniche, Petit, Ronaldo,Nuno Gomes (Quaresma 69), Simao (Joao Moutinho 81).

Subs Not Used: Quim, Andrade, Tiago, Nani.

Goals: Maniche 50, Ronaldo 73.

Poland Boruc, Wasilewski, Jop, Zewlakow,Bronowicki (Golanski 55), Blaszczykowski, Lewandowski, Dudka,Smolarek (Lobodzinski 73), Krzynowek, Zurawski (Matusiak 56).

Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Sobolewski, Saganowski, Glowacki.

Booked: Boruc, Wasilewski, Bronowicki.

Goals: Lewandowski 44, Krzynowek 88.

Att: 48,000

Ref: Roberto Rosetti (Italy).

Cristiano vs. armenia