Benfica midfielder Martins, who spent last season on loan at Granada, was last week included in coach Paulo Bento's 23-man for Poland and Ukraine but a leg injury means he will not be available for the tournament.

Taking his place is 29-year-old Braga playmaker Viana, who won the most recent of his 26 caps in 2007.

Portugal is in Group B at the European championships alongside Netherlands, Denmark and Germany, whom it faces in its opening match on 10 June (AEST).

The Benfica player was the main surprise in the 23-man squad announced by coach Paulo Bento.

Portugal has struggled to find a top-class centre-forward, with most goals in the qualifying campaign coming from attacking midfielders Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani.

Oliveira has played mostly as a substitute for his club and came on late for Portugal in a friendly against Poland in February for his debut. He faces competition for a place in the line-up from Hugo Almeida and Helder Postiga.

Oliveira "is a young player with a lot of skill and a lot of potential," Bento told a news conference. "He's got different characteristics from the other strikers. We believe in him."

Defender Miguel Lopes and midfielder Custodio Castro, both uncapped players from Portuguese club Braga, were other surprises though they are unlikely to be first choices for Bento.

Portugal, which is still chasing its first international title, is in Group B against former champion Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark at Euro 2012.

The squad gathers this week for its pre-tournament training camp.

Portugal plays exhibition games against Macedonia on May 26 and against Turkey on June 2, two days before travelling to Poland.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Rui Patricio (Sporting Lisbon), Eduardo (Benfica), Beto (Cluj).

Defenders: Bruno Alves (Zenit St. Petersburg), Fabio Coentrao (Real Madrid), Joao Pereira (Sporting Lisbon), Pepe (Real Madrid), Rolando (FC Porto), Ricardo Costa (Valencia), Miguel Lopes (Braga).

Midfielders: Carlos Martins (Granada), Joao Moutinho (FC Porto), Miguel Veloso (Genoa), Raul Meireles (Chelsea), Ruben Micael (Zaragoza), Custodio Castro (Braga).

Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Hugo Almeida (Besiktas), Helder Postiga (Zaragoza), Nani (Manchester United), Ricardo Quaresma (Besiktas), Silvestre Varela (FC Porto), Nelson Oliveira (Benfica).

Fans of the Selecao are still reeling at the near miss by the team of 2004, when unfancied Greece spoiled the party in Lisbon in the nearest the Portuguese has come to international glory.

Figo and friends, tipped for top honours after under-20 World Cup successes in both 1989 and 1991, had been expected to turn on the style and show its rivals, including then under-achieving neighbour Spain, the way to glory.

But the final defeat crushed home expectations and sent the Portuguese, who had banked on flair winning the day, back to the drawing board.

Eight years on and the talismanic presence of Cristiano Ronaldo notwithstanding, most observers expect a more cautious approach from coach Paulo Bento, a tough defensive midfielder in his day who won domestic honours with Sporting.

Portugal could hardly have asked for a tougher group: its Group B rivals - Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark - are all former competition winners.

For a side which only crawled through the back door of the playoffs to qualify at Bosnia's expense, even getting through the group stage looks a daunting prospect.

Bento took over as national team coach from the sacked Carlos Queiroz early in the qualifying campaign, steering Portugal to runner-up spot before seeing off Bosnia in the play-offs.

A subsequent thrashing of world champion Spain - albeit in a friendly - added credit to Bento's ledger, particularly given that the Spanish had dumped the Portuguese out of the last World Cup.

But its most recent outing was an unimpressive goalless stalemate last against tournament co-host Poland.

Portugal will clearly have to step up a gear if it is to get the better of tournament favourite Germany in Lviv on June 9, where it also takes on Denmark four days later before a final match against the Netherlands at Kharkiv on June 17.

"Getting through to the knockout stage is a tough call," admitted Bento, who was suspended with Xavier and Nuno Gomes in the 2000 tournament for jostling the Austrian referee in a controversial 2-1 semi-final defeat to eventual winner France.

With the attacking flair of Ronaldo and Manchester United's occasionally mercurial Nani to call on, the Portuguese should carry a threat. Yet a defence which leaked four goals to Cyprus in a home qualifier must rank as suspect.

Against the Dutch, most fans will hope flair can outflank brawn while also producing a similar result the last time the two faced off, at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

On that occasion a record 16 yellow and four red cards were shown as the Portuguese advanced.

Bento will announce his squad on May 14 in the town of Obidos.

The 42-year-old's previous deal was due to expire after this northern summer's European championships, but the Portuguese Football Federation has confirmed that an agreement had been reached with Bento and his coaching team for two more years.

A statement on federation website www.fpf.pt read: "The Portuguese Football Federation announced that the contractual relationship of the national coach, Paulo Bento, and the entire technical team selection was renewed until July 2014.

"The president, Fernando Gomes, and the national coach, Paulo Bento, will address this issue at a press conference scheduled for tomorrow, May 4, at 1230 in the FPF headquarters."

Bento took up the Portugal reins in September 2010, replacing Carlos Queiroz, and led his side to Euro 2012 via the play-offs and a 6-2 aggregate victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina last November.

Portugal will open its campaign in Ukraine against Germany on June 9 and faces further Group B games against The Netherlands and Denmark.

Danny suffered the injury when he collided with a team-mate during a training camp of his Russian club Zenit St Petersburg in Florence, Italy, and will be sidelined for at least six months.

"It's the exact same situation that I had three years ago. Of course it's really sad, but that's life, and that's football," Danny told the Zenit website in an interview published on Tuesday.

Danny said he was returning to Portugal and would most likely require surgery on the injury.

Portuguese football federation senior official Joao Vieira Pinto, in an interview with Antena 1 radio, named Danny's fate 'a huge loss'.

"We are very sad, Danny would have been an important man at Euro," he said.

Venezuela-born Danny has won 23 Portugal caps and scored four goals. Portugal is in tough Group B with Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands at EURO 2012 in Poland and Ukraine.

"Cristiano Ronaldo did not train due to a strain in the adductor muscle of his left thigh, and neither did Arbeloa, who is suffering from a strain in his left hamstring," the club said in a statement on its website.

The club did not indicate whether the players were likely to miss the clash against Valencia.

Arbeloa who missed Real's Champions League match with Lyon earlier this month because of a left thigh injury played for Spain in their 1-0 loss to England and its 2-2 draw with Costa Rica.

Ivica Olic gave Slaven Bilic's side the perfect start when he turned home Vedran Corluka's cross from close range with just two minutes on the clock.

Mario Mandzukic doubled the lead half-an-hour later when he nodded past the flailing Volkan Demirel at the far post, before Corluka completed the scoring in the 51st minute with only his second international goal.

A late header from Tomas Sivok saw the Czech Republic put one foot in the finals with a 2-0 victory over Montenegro.

The Czechs held a narrow lead after Vaclav Pilar's 63rd-minute goal but Sivok's goal in injury-time gives them a clear advantage going into the second leg in Montenegro.

Captain Robbie Keane claimed a double as the Republic of Ireland took a stranglehold on its play-off with a 4-0 win against nine-man Estonia.

Keith Andrews had got the visitor off to the perfect start with a 13th-minute header and Jonathan Walters repeated the feat from Keane's 67th-minute cross.

Keane made it 3-0 four minutes later and then converted a late penalty as Estonia, which had Andrei Stepanov sent off before the break and captain Raio Piiroja after it, capitulated on a miserable night for the host in Tallinn.

Bosnia-Herzegovina failed to make the most of home advantage as it played out a dire goalless draw with Portugal in Zenica.

Possession was dominated by the visitor but Helder Postiga missed the best of what chances it created, while Cristiano Ronaldo again struggled to recreate his club form in a Portugal shirt.

Despite that, Portugal will feel it is best placed to qualify ahead of the second leg in Lisbon.

Having finished second to Russia in qualifying group B for the tournament, Giovanni Trapattoni's men must now amend a dreadful two-legged record to book their place in Poland and Ukraine.

Ireland has tasted success just once in the five play-offs they have featured in before now - getting the better of Iraq to qualify for the 2002 World Cup - and must make it two wins from six if it is to make what would be only a second appearance at the finals of the European Championships.

Its most recent flirtation with a play-off ended in acrimony, when Thierry Henry's handball helped France qualify for last year's World Cup at its expense, while it has also fallen foul of the Netherlands, Belgium and Turkey.

Ireland will start its latest attempt to qualify for a major tournament in Estonia on Friday, November 11, with the return leg at Dublin's Aviva Stadium on Tuesday, November 15.

"It is extremely positive for Ireland that we will play the first leg away," veteran coach Trapattoni said.

"We should not underestimate our opposition, or any team, including Estonia.

"To have made it through to the play-off, they must have quality and mental fortitude.

"Our build up to this stage of the competition has shown us the importance of organisation, attention to detail, and self-belief.

"That will be vitally important to us as we prepare for these games in November."

Tarmo Ruutli's Estonia emerged from a group containing Italy, Northern Ireland, Serbia, Slovenia and the Faroe Islands to take second place, and with it earn a first-ever play-off berth.

It has never made the finals of a major tournament, and history is not on its side either.

The two historical meetings between the pair have gone the way of the Irish, 2-0 on both occasions in qualifying for the 2002 World Cup, with Richard Dunne on target in each game.

Former Republic of Ireland striker John Aldridge has backed the team to beat Estonia and qualify for the finals.

Asked if he thought Trapattoni's side would go through, he told Sky Sports News: "Yes. We've got the greatest travelling fans and it would be great to see them on the road again.'"

The former Liverpool player believes the Republic was fortunate to draw Estonia.

He said: "It was probably the easiest of the four (unseeded teams to draw).

"We travel better than we play at home, we've had better results away than we have had at home.''

Aldridge admitted the suspension of striker Kevin Doyle, still waiting to hear the length of his punishment after being sent off in the qualifier against Armenia on Tuesday which the Republic won 2-1, would be a blow to the team's chances.

However, he backed Shane Long to fill the breach.

"Shane Long has done really well when he has deputised for either Robbie (Keane) or Kevin so it's a great opportunity for him," he said.

Ireland has only reached the European Championship finals once before - in West Germany in 1988 - but will be relatively pleased to have drawn Estonia.

There were tougher-looking assignments in the pot of unseeded teams it could have been put up against, with the other ties seeing Turkey taking on Croatia, the Czech Republic facing Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina going up against Portugal.

Portugal and Bosnia were both losers in winner-takes-all showdowns last week, with Portugal being defeated by Denmark and with it surrendering top spot in Group H, while Bosnia drew 1-1 with France when a win would have seen them pip Laurent Blanc`s men to the automatic spot in Group B.

The Czechs took second in Group I, winning a two-way tussle with Scotland to finish behind reigning champion Spain.

The Read Madrid forward will lead his men out at the Parken Stadion knowing a draw will be enough to take his country to Poland and Ukraine for next year's European Championships.

Paulo Bento's side currently leads Group H on goal difference from the Danes, with the Copenhagen contest effectively a winner-takes-all showdown.

The draw falls on Portugal's side, though, while Norway, three points shy of the duo, could make things even more complex should it inflict a heavy defeat on Cyprus.

But Ronaldo is looking to take the maths out of the equation and do the simplest thing to earn a place in the championships - get a win.

"Portugal are going to Denmark to win the game, that's our thinking," he told Spanish newspaper AS.

"We know there are conditions but we want to win the tie for direct entry (to Euro 2012).

"That is always the mentality of the team and I am sure we will make it a good match."

Ronaldo did not score any of Portugal's five goals in the 5-3 win over Iceland - his next will put him clear as his country's fourth leading scorer of all-time - proving the attack is working well heading to Denmark.

The defence is not polished at the moment, though, and Ronaldo believes the absence of club team-mates Pepe and Fabio Coentrao is a contributing factor, as well as the self-imposed exile of Ricardo Carvalho.

"We very much need Pepe," the 26-year-old added. "But those who are here now are the most important.

"We can talk about Pepe, but Ricardo Carvalho did not come to Portugal."

The first qualifying fixture between the two ended in a 3-1 win for Portugal, but Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen believes a sound historical record could stand his side in good stead.

It avoided defeat in its three meetings prior to that Lisbon reverse, and Eriksen told www.uefa.com: "It would be better to avoid the play-offs, but we can only avoid them by getting a win.

"We've done well against Portugal before, though."

While Norway has a mathematical chance of making it into second spot, manager Egil Olsen has accepted his side will not be boarding a plane for the finals.

"It's possible to say I'm disappointed, but I wasn't exactly optimistic beforehand," the former Wimbledon manager told Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten.

For Cyprus, which has two points from a surprise 4-4 draw in Portugal and a 0-0 draw with Iceland, the only target remains a win to overtake the latter and finish second bottom in the group.

The Greek players started the night knowing a win was almost essential in their penultimate match in the group, with the Croatians enjoying a one-point lead.

Samaras struck in the 71st minute and Gekas added the second eight minutes later to leave Greece knowing a point in its final group game in Georgia next week will be enough. Latvia beat Malta 2-0 in the other Group F game.

Belgium wrested control of the race for a play-off place in Group A with a 4-1 win over Kazakhstan in Brussels, while rival Turkey was sent crashing 3-1 by group winners Germany in Istanbul.

Timmy Simons, Eden Hazard, Vincent Kompany and Vitaly Yevstigneev's late own goal gave Belgium a 4-0 lead, but in order to guarantee their play-off spot Georges Leekens' men must now win in Germany.

Turkey, which has a home game against Azerbaijan, went down to strikes from Mario Gomez and Thomas Muller. Hakan Balta pulled one back before Bastian Schweinsteiger settled matters with an 86th-minute penalty.

Belgium's win eliminated Austria, despite its 4-1 win in Azerbaijan.

The Netherlands was made to work harder than expected to extend its 100% record to nine games in Group E, Klaas Jan Huntelaar scoring the only goal of the game in the 40th minute at home to group minnows Moldova.

Sweden effectively guaranteed the runner-up slot with a 2-1 win over Finland in Helsinki, Sebastian Larsson's early strike setting the Swedes on their way and Martin Olsson adding a second before Joona Toivio's late consolation.

In Group D, Bosnia set up a winner-takes-all clash with France in Paris after a 5-0 win over Luxembourg in Zenica, while the French cantered to an equally convincing 3-0 triumph against Albania.

Goals from Florent Malouda, Loic Remy and substitute Anthony Reveillere meant the French go into the final group fixture with a one-point advantage - but also with memories of plenty of previous last-gasp qualifying disappointments.

In the other Group D fixture, Romania saw its slim play-off hopes disappear in a disappointing 2-2 draw with Belarus in Bucharest.

Spain maintained its 100% record in Group I with Juan Mata and Xabi Alonso scoring in a 2-0 win over the Czech Republic in Prague, a win that keeps Scotland's slim play-off hopes alive.

Scotland knows wins from its final two matches will guarantee second place - but its last match is against Spain in Alicante. The Czechs' final game is a trip to Lithuania next week.

Branislav Ivanovic cancelled out Claudio Marchisio's early strike as Serbia secured a potentially vital point in Group C with a 1-1 draw against Italy in Belgrade.

Estonia went second as it completed their fixtures with two Konstantin Vassiljev goals giving it a 2-1 win in Northern Ireland - but a point for Serbia in its final match in Slovenia next week will be enough to earn a play-off place.

Ashley Young and Darren Bent scored early as England secured qualification from Group G, but only after opponent Montenegro had battled back to claim a 2-2 draw with Andrija Delibasic's injury-time equaliser.

Delibasic's goal, which came after Wayne Rooney was needlessly sent off, was enough for the Montenegrins to make sure of a play-off place after rival Switzerland fell to goals from Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale in a 2-0 defeat in Wales.

Russia all but wrapped up qualification from Group B as Alan Dzagoev scored the only goal of the game against Slovakia in Zilina. Victory at home to Andorra on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST) will secure the Russians' place in the finals.

The Republic of Ireland will fight it out with Armenia for the play-off place in Dublin after both won their penultimate matches.

A draw will be good enough for Ireland, for whom Kevin Doyle and Aiden McGeady scored in a 2-0 win in Andorra, but Armenia will travel full of confidence after a thumping 4-1 home win over Macedonia.

Portugal and Denmark will play off for qualification from Group H in Copenhagen next Tuesday (Wednesday AEDT) after the former beat Iceland 5-3 in Porto.

The home side was coasting at 3-0 thanks to an early double from Nani and a third from Helder Postiga, but Aron Gunnarsson and Hallgrimur Jonasson scored in the second half to reduce the deficit.

Late strikes from Joao Moutinho and Eliseu finally secured victory, before Birkir Bjarnason's injury-time penalty.

Portugal will go to the Danish capital knowing a draw will be enough but Denmark will be brimming with confidence after a 4-1 win in Cyprus, in which veteran winger Dennis Rommedahl scored twice.

The Iberian team has suffered a turbulent qualification campaign but has put together a run of results to leave it in the driving seat to secure a place at next northern summer's finals.

On Saturday (Sunday AEST), it hosts Iceland in Porto and if it wins - and Denmark wins away in Cyprus at the same time - it will engage in a decider in Copenhagen next week.

"The group is calm," Moutinho told O Jogo. "We came through the worst moments of the qualification campaign and at one stage it was very complicated and difficult.

"Now we have good momentum and we like that. We've managed to win to get to this stage, when we'll also look to triumph.

"We're focused on the two games. The first is very important to us and we'll do everything to achieve the victory. The players are ready to play, whoever gets the call.

"I'm sure the team will be at the right level, as they have been in recent games. We're preparing for the match with all seriousness.

"There is huge competition for places and that's good for the mentality.

"We have great players and we're all working to meet expectations."

Moutinho hopes to count on great support at Porto's Estadio do Dragao.

"I hope the Dragao is full because it's important to feel the support of the public and it is an important game for Portugal."

Bento will be without key defenders Pepe and Fabio Coentrao and striker Hugo Almeida.

Iceland boss Olafur Johannesson - who will be without leading light Eidur Gudjohnsen - is braced for a stern test.

"Portugal are one of the best national teams in the world so it will be a difficult game," he said.

"But my players are prepared and motivated to take on a team like this, and we look forward to this game as a great challenge."

Denmark coach Morten Olsen has had a stressful week ahead of the match in Cyprus as was forced to address constant speculation linking him with the vacant Hamburg job.

"I have no comment to make," he insisted.

"I've never paid attention to rumours and anyway, I'm under contract here so there is nothing to say."

The Atletico Madrid star is according to Henrique Jones showing signs of suffering from a groin problem and would prefer to have him fit for next week's final and decisive clash with Denmark.

Jones also said that Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo had not trained with the squad on Monday because of a painful right hip but that there was no question of him missing the two qualifiers.

"He will train with the squad on Wednesday," said Jones.

The Portuguese had already replaced Dany with Porto winger Silvestre Varela on Sunday because of personal reasons.

Group H is set for a thrilling climax as three sides, Portugal, Denmark and Norway are all on 13 points, though, the first two have two matches remaining to the Norwegians one.

The Portuguese top it on goal difference.

Carvalho stormed out of the Portugal camp ahead of last week's 4-0 win against Cyprus, apparently because he was angry at being named on the substitutes' bench. He later announced he was quitting international football.

Despite the controversy, Bento said in a television interview late on Tuesday that Carvalho should not be sanctioned.

The Portuguese Football Federation is due to examine the case and could impose a ban on Carvalho playing in Portugal for up to three months.

The 33-year-old Real Madrid defender had left Portugal's training camp without permission earlier in the day, and announced his decision in a statement released via national news agency Lusa.

It has been reported Carvalho was angered after being left out of the starting XI for Friday evening's (Saturday morning AEST) Euro 2012 qualifier against Cyprus.

"I feel in great shape, both physically and mentally, like my performances for the club and the national team have shown. If they make me feel like a burden and will not tell me, the only possibility is to leave," Carvalho's statement read.

"I have never felt this disrespected and hurt in my dignity before. Between my peers, I am just one more athlete. However, I, too, deserve consideration and respect.

"I did not plan to end my international career this way but I do it convinced that I always honoured my country."

Carvalho earned 75 caps for Portugal, scoring four goals, after making his debut against Albania in 2003.

He was named as part of the UEFA Team of the Tournament after helping Portugal to the runner-up spot at Euro 2004.

He earned the last of his caps in the 5-0 victory over Luxembourg earlier this month.

Earlier, the Portuguese Football Federation confirmed Carvalho had left the squad.

A statement on the federation website, www.fpf.pt, read: "Ricardo Carvalho left the Portugal national team camp on Wednesday by his own initiative and without informing the federation or the national team coach.

"As such, he will not travel with the rest of the party to Nicosia, where the team will play their sixth game in qualifying for the 2012 European Championship."

Portugal, which is level on 10 points with Denmark and Norway at the top of Group H after five games, faces fourth-placed Cyprus in Nicosia.

Dick Advocaat's side remains level on points with the Republic of Ireland and Slovakia, who both also won.

Russia's result was more convincing than its performance.

Marcos Pizelli put the visitor ahead after 25 minutes before Pavlyuchenko took centre stage, the striker equalising almost immediately with a volley before making it 2-1 from close range on the hour mark and adding another with a 73rd-minute penalty.

"We are really satisfied with the result," Russia coach Dick Advocaat told AP afterwards.

"It was a must-win for us today. We were nervous and had problems in the (midfield). We have won, but we must improve our game."

Armenia coach Vardan Minasyan said: "Pavlyuchenko scored both his goals when he was left unmarked in the box. It was our mistake."

Slovakia edged out Andorra 1-0 in Bratislava. Miroslav Karhan got the only goal in the 63rd minute as Slovakia was largely frustrated by the group's whipping boy but did enough to take the three points.

Robbie Keane plundered the 50th and 51st goals of his senior international career to fire the Republic of Ireland to a 2-0 victory against FYR Macedonia.

Keane's strikes after eight and 37 minutes proved enough to secure three precious points.

The victory did not come easily, however, and goalkeeper Shay Given was relieved to see Ivan Trickovski thump a 40th-minute penalty against the crossbar after John O'Shea had been penalised for a foul on Goran Pandev.

England's hopes of finishing top of Group G looked to have been seriously dented by a 2-2 draw with Switzerland at Wembley.

Tranquillo Barnetta struck twice in three minutes from free-kicks to give Switzerland a 2-0 lead.

However, Frank Lampard pulled a goal back before half-time with a penalty after a foul by Johan Djourou on Jack Wilshere, and Ashley Young drove in an equaliser early in the second half.

Montenegro could have pulled two points clear of Fabio Capello's side, but despite taking the lead against Bulgaria it had to settle for a 1-1 draw in Podgorica.

Radomir Djalovic put the Montenegrins ahead after 52 minutes, only for Ivelin Popov to snatch an equaliser 14 minutes later, meaning England remains top of the group on goal difference.

Greece moved to the top of Group F with an easy 3-1 victory over Malta.

First-half goals from Ioannis Fetfatzidis and Kyriakos Papadopoulos set it on its way.

Although Michael Mifsud got one back for Malta early in the second half, Fetfatzidis soon netted his second to restore the two-goal advantage and lift Greece above Croatia and Israel.

"We dominated the first 30 minutes and could have scored more than two goals," Greece coach Fernando Santos told AP.

"After the 35th minute, my players started running aimlessly and out of position.

"We explained to them what to correct at half-time but, unexpectedly, they came out even looser in the second half and Malta started to believe.

"We could have avoided these bad 20 minutes."

Israel overcame the challenge of host Latvia with a 2-1 win to join Croatia on 13 points, one behind Greece.

The visitor dominated the first half and held an interval lead thanks to goals from Yossi Benayoun and Tal Ben-Haim, the latter coming from the penalty spot.

Aleksandrs Cauna gave Latvia hope of a comeback with a spot-kick of his own, but it was unable to find an equaliser.

Portugal, Denmark and Norway are locked together on 10 points at the top of Group H.

Portugal won 1-0 at home to Norway, which lost for the first time in its campaign after gathering three wins and a draw from its opening four games. Helder Postiga's 53rd-minute goal separated the teams.

The Portuguese stand top on goal difference from their two Scandinavian rivals.

Denmark kept its qualifying campaign on track with a 2-0 victory over Iceland.

Goals from Lasse Schone and Christian Eriksen earned Morten Olsen's side its third win of the campaign.

Iceland continues to prop up the standings.

The 26-year-old forward netted an incredible 53 goals in 54 appearances for Real Madrid this season, including a record 40 in the league, but missed Portugal's recent friendlies with Finland and Chile through injury.

Norway leads Portugal by three points at the top of Group H, and with only the top side guaranteed a place at next year's finals in Poland and Ukraine, Ronaldo and company can scarcely afford a setback against Egil Olsen's men.

"The objective is to win and go top of the group," said centre-back Bruno Alves. "Norway are a strong team, but we are preparing very well and in the end we will win."

An error from goalkeeper Eduardo gifted Erik Huseklepp the only goal of the game when the sides last met in Oslo in September, in what became Carlos Queiroz's last game in charge of Portugal.

His replacement, Paulo Bento, subsequently oversaw back-to-back 3-1 defeats of both Denmark and Iceland in October that set Portugal's qualifying campaign back on track.

A magisterial 4-0 thrashing of world champion and Iberian rival Spain in November, meanwhile, went some way towards dissipating memories of the embarrassing 4-4 draw with Cyprus in Portugal's first qualifying match.

"In my opinion, Portugal are the world's best national team at the moment," said Norway coach Olsen.

"They are the favourites, but I am optimistic. We can take a point, and even win. Portugal have to win against us, and that may be to our advantage."

The other Group H match on Saturday (Sunday AEST) sees Iceland host Denmark, which will finish the weekend level on points with Portugal and Norway if it wins in Reykjavik and the home side prevails in Lisbon.

In Group G, England and Montenegro can put clear daylight between themselves and their rivals with wins in their respective home fixtures.

Neck and neck at the group summit on 10 points, England hosts Switzerland at Wembley while Montenegro takes on Bulgaria in Podgorica.

Victories for both table-toppers, who drew 0-0 when they met last October, would allow them to open up a nine-point lead on the third-placed Swiss and fourth-placed Bulgarians with only three games to play.

"We had a good result against them (Switzerland) away early in the qualifiers (a 3-1 win in September) which gave us confidence, but it's all about us and how well prepared, fit and ready that we are," said England midfielder Frank Lampard.

"I think at Wembley, we're going to have a very good chance."

England is missing Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney through suspension, while his club-mate Michael Carrick has been forced to withdraw with a leg injury.

Carrick was unlikely to start, however, as coach Fabio Capello is expected to keep faith with the trio of Lampard, Scott Parker and Jack Wilshere that started the 2-0 win in Wales in March.

Montenegro coach Zlatko Kranjcar is able to welcome back 21-year-old attacker Stevan Jovetic, who only returned to action for Fiorentina last month after suffering serious knee ligament damage in pre-season.

Meanwhile, Russia, Slovakia and the Republic of Ireland enter their Group B fixtures level on 10 points at the top of the pool.

Slovakia hosts whipping boys Andorra, Russia meets Armenia in Saint Petersburg and Ireland travela to second-bottom Macedonia.

The 2022 World Cup host, 77 places below its opponent in the FIFA rankings, took the lead in the fourth minute through Mohamed Kasoula, but Tottenham Hotspur striker Roman Pavlyuchenko levelled in the 34th minute.

The draw continued Russia's run of poor results after its 2012 qualifying draw in Armenia last week and friendly defeats to Iran and Belgium.

Andre Hainault's 58th-minute effort earned Canada a surprise 1-0 win over Belarus in Antalya in Turkey.

China beat Honduras 3-0 and Peru shared a goalless draw with Ecuador.

World Cup semi-finalist Uruguay needed a couple of glorious finishes to edge out the Republic of Ireland 3-2 in Dublin.

Defender Diego Lugano opened the scoring from close range and, after Shane Long had cancelled out his strike with a 15th-minute header, his strikers took over.

Edinson Cavani and Abel Hernandez put the visitor in the driving seat with sumptuous strikes after 22 and 40 minutes respectively.

Keith Fahey's 48th-minute penalty gave the Irish hope, but the South American side held on.

Micael scored twice, in the 10th and 71st minutes, as Portugal beat Finland 2-0 in Aveiro.

Slovakia, which tops qualifying Group B, went down to a 2-1 home defeat to Denmark.

A Kornel Salata own goal put Denmark in front after three minutes, but Filip Holosko equalised just after the half-hour mark.

Brondby winger Michael Krohn-Dehli fired in the winner in the 72nd minute.

First-half goals from Matias Fernandez and Jean Beausejour earned Chile a 2-0 win over Colombia in a friendly played in The Hague.

Martin Petrov's first-half goal earned Bulgaria a 1-0 win over Cyprus, while Greece and Poland drew 0-0.

Mexico was 3-0 up by the break as 'Chicharito' scored in the seventh and 35th minutes with winger Andres Guardado scoring in between. Cristian Riveros pulled one back for Paraguay three minutes from time.

Portugal and Chile drew 1-1 after Silvestre Varela's opener was cancelled out by Chile's Sporting Lisbon attacker Matias Fernandez.

Fredy Guarin and Radamel Falcao Garcia scored one apiece as Colombia won 2-0 away to Ecuador.

Nani is enjoying his best season to date since joining the Premier League leader and he is hoping to replicate his performances for his country.

"I think I've been doing well this season for my national team and I hope to do much better, the best moment is now," he said.

His former United team-mate Ronaldo has been ruled out of the forthcoming double-header against Chile and Finland and the team, under coach Paulo Bento, will be looking for a better performance than it produced in its previous friendly against Argentina.

Visiting Chile is on an unbeaten run that stretches back to a 2-1 defeat in Ukraine at the start of September, its last friendly was a 1-1 draw against the United States.

Korea Republic meanwhile will start planning for the future without Nani's Manchester United team-mate Park Ji-sung, who announced his international retirement after the Asian Cup.

Honduras is the visitor to Seoul this weekend and South Korea manager Cho Kwang-rae has highlighted finding a replacement for Park as a vital part of the match.

"I am thinking about using Kim Bo-kyong," he said.

"He didn't play at the Asian Cup but he has been looking good in training. Physically he is strong and I have high expectations of him."

Kim was also a non-playing member of the 2010 World Cup squad, and whilst he acknowledges the game against Honduras as a chance for him to get into the team, he isn't looking at himself as a replacement for Park.

"Nobody can take the place of Park Ji-sung in the team but I will do the best I can," said Kim.

"This game is a great opportunity. I don't know when the next one will come around so I want to play with no regret and try to show my ability."

FIFA Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi is part of the Argentina squad which has travelled to New Jersey to play the USA and ahead of Saturday's (Sunday AEDT) game he has received glowing praise from both managers.

Argentina coach Sergio Batista believes his talismanic playmaker will go down as one of the greatest players of all time.

"Messi is on the way to becoming the best footballer in history," he said.

"If one looks into the future, Lionel has everything. Maradona was one of the greatest, without a doubt. But Messi right now is the best in the world, and we have to take advantage of that."

Even USA coach Bob Bradley reserved special praise for the Barcelona star.

"Some players are just on the kind of level where you have huge admiration for them above anything else," he said.

"Messi is one of those. Would I pay to watch him? Without a doubt."

Sunday's (Monday AEDT) friendly between Scotland and Brazil will be held at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium and Scotland defender Christophe Berra has insisted the team is under no illusions as to the size of the task they face against the five time World Cup winner.

"We're not kidding ourselves - it's going to be a difficult game because they're a better team than us with better individuals, but we want to continue our progress."

Friday (Saturday AEDT) will also see England's Euro 2012 qualifying opponent Montenegro host Uzbekistan after their initial friendly in Japan was cancelled following the earthquake and tsunami earlier this month.

Elsewhere on Friday Lithuania hosts Poland, Uruguay travels to Estonia and hosts ChinaNew Zealand.

The remainder of Saturday's friendly action sees Panama play Bolivia, Colombia meet Ecuador and Paraguay take on Mexico in California.

The former Manchester United assistant manager was suspended by Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) for insulting officials who had turned up to test his players at a pre-World Cup training camp last May.

He was accused of hindering anti-doping tests on players and sacked as national team coach after being sanctioned by the Portuguese anti-doping authority. Queiroz then appealed to the Lausanne-based CAS.

However, the CAS arbitrators ruled that Queiroz's outburst had not disturbed the anti-doping control.

"While the Panel found the behaviour of Mr Queiroz unacceptable, it did not find that such behaviour disturbed the sample collection process or the work of the anti-doping officers," the court said in a statement.

"As a consequence, the CAS Panel has upheld the appeal of Mr Queiroz and has set aside the decision of the Portuguese anti-doping authority," it added.

Ronaldo recently missed two games with a hamstring problem but returned to action in the midweek Champions League game against Lyon.

He also started his side's derby against Atletico Madrid, playing around 70 minutes in both matches before being replaced.

He complained of pain in his left thigh following the derby and underwent medical tests, where the extent of the damage was confirmed.

According to a statement on the Madrid website, Ronaldo is now likely to be absent for 'between two to three weeks, depending on his progress'.

Ronaldo is now set to miss Portugal's upcoming friendlies against Chile and Finland, and it remains to be seen if he will be fit for Madrid's league match against Sporting Gijon in a fortnight's time and the Champions League clash with Tottenham on 5 April.

Nine-times European champion Madrid reached the last eight of the Champions League for the first time in seven years after knocking out Lyon in midweek.

In a game featuring two of the planet's best players in world player of the year Messi and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, it was the Argentinian who earned the bragging rights as he slotted home a penalty in the final minute.

Angel Di Maria fired Argentina ahead in the 14th minute before Ronaldo levelled things up seven minutes later and the game appeared to be heading for a draw before Messi's intervention.

Portugal attacked early on and Gabriel Milito had to be alert for the South American side to get in ahead of Nani and Hugo Almeida.

However, the Argentina midfield started to take control with Messi spearheading its attacks.

The Barcelona forward headed just wide before crossing for Esteban Cambiasso with Portugal goalkeeper Eduardo called on to intercept.

However, it took less than a quarter-of-an-hour for Messi to unlock the Portugal defence as he moved from the right wing into a central position where he provided a simple, one-on-one opportunity for Di Maria who slotted home.

Just seven minutes later, though, Portugal replied through Ronaldo.

Nani crossed from the left, Almeida got his head to ball and Ronaldo pounced to send it past Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero.

The Real Madrid forward almost scored again just two minutes later but he sent his long-range shot just wide.

Portugal was the better team after the break, Almeida heading narrowly wide from Ronaldo's cross before the former hit the bar and Ronaldo failed to convert the rebound.

Messi replied with a free-kick which substitute goalkeeper Rui Patricio deflected for a corner before the game lost its intensity with a number of substitutions, of which Ronaldo was one.

As a result, Argentina began to dominate, Faustino Rojo just failing to convert Ezequiel Lavezzi's cross before Javier Pastore was close with a header after Messi's free-kick had hit the bar with a little over five minutes to go.

However, Messi was not to be denied and when Argentina was awarded a last-minute penalty the Barca ace sent a shot to the right of the keeper to seal a hard-earned victory.

Longtime club rivals in the UEFA Champions League and Spain, the gifted forwards have never come up against each other on national team duty because the friendly in neutral Switzerland is their countries' first meeting in almost 40 years.

The historic clash arrives with Barcelona's Messi and Real Madrid's Ronaldo locked at the top of the Spanish scoring chart with 24 league goals each.

Portugal coach Paulo Bento downplayed talk of a personal duel between the two most recent winners of FIFA's world player award.

"As far as I'm concerned this is Portugal against Argentina," Bento said.

"It's not about individual rivalry. I doubt whether Ronaldo or Messi see it that way, either."

The last time Ronaldo shared a pitch with Messi, Madrid slumped to a 5-0 defeat against an inspired Barcelona team in November.

Messi's mesmerising play for the Spanish champion helped ensure that last month the 23-year-old Argentine lifted the FIFA Ballon d'Or trophy after being named the best in the world for a second straight year.

Ronaldo had previously had the edge in their rivalry, receiving the FIFA honour for 2008 when Messi was runner-up.

That prize rewarded a 42-goal season leading Manchester United to the Champions League title, including beating Barcelona in the semi-finals.

Messi struck back by starring, and scoring, in the 2009 final that was Ronaldo's last match for United before moving to Madrid.

Organisers say at least 85 countries will broadcast the match live, and the two main attractions warmed to their task at the weekend.

Ronaldo scored twice in Madrid's 4-1 win over Real Sociedad, and Messi hit all three goals in the 3-0 victory over Atletico Madrid to extend Barcelona's league winning streak to 16.

Messi also scored in Argentina's last match, a 1-0 victory against Brazil in a November friendly played at Doha, Qatar.

"The time has come to call time on this fantastic experience," Tiago wrote in a letter made public by the Portuguese football federation.

The 29-year-old said that he was making the decision 'for personal reasons' and to allow 'new Portuguese footballing values to find their place'.

Tiago, who has 58 caps for the national side, made his international debut against Scotland in 2002 and scored three goals.

The former Chelsea, Benfica and Lyon player is currently on loan with Primera Liga club Atletico from Serie A side Juventus.

Mourinho had been approached to replace Carlos Queiroz but Real blocked the approach and Paulo Bento eventually took full-time charge of the national side.

It was a development which the former Inter Milan and Chelsea boss described as his "greatest frustration of 2010".

"I believe that I will never coach a national team because it's a question of mentality, of personality," Mourinho told Portuguese media.

"I am a coach who works every day, is ready to play three times a week if necessary. But at that moment, I was motivated to do it."

Mourinho also praised compatriot and Real star Cristiano Ronaldo, describing the former Manchester United star as "extraordinary".

"He is fantastic, an extraordinary man," said Mourinho.

"He is physically stronger than he has ever been.

"I believe that he is in the right condition to have his best season."

Real went into the European winter break trailing great rival Barcelona by two points in the Spanish title race, and Mourinho knows he is under pressure to deliver silverware as soon as possible.

"In all great institutions, the pressure is always huge.

"Ideally, I will stay until the end of my contract. But I know, and we all know, that I can't stay one, two or three years without winning a trophy," said Mourinho, who has a four-year deal.

"I have always known the rules of the game."

It will be the second time each side has played at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium. Argentina lost 3-0 to Brazil in September 2006, while Portugal beat the same opponent 2-0 five months later.

The match could feature the world's two best players in Argentina striker Lionel Messi and Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo.

Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis says it "is a fantastic opportunity for football lovers in the UK to watch some of the world's best players."

Arsenal has hosted a total five internationals since its 60,355-seat stadium opened in July 2006.

The match will take place at the Emirates Stadium, the home of Arsenal, on February 9, the Argentina football federation (AFA) has announced.

The last time the two countries played each other was back in 1972 when Portugal beat Argentina 3-1 in Rio de Janeiro.

Since this summer`s FIFA World Cup, both nations have recorded big friendly wins over world champion Spain, with Argentina beating Vicente del Bosque`s men 4-1 in Buenos Aires in September while Portugal was a 4-0 victor in Lisbon last month.

The AFA also confirmed away friendlies in March against United States and Costa Rica.

Captain Ronaldo looked to have put Portugal ahead with a superb effort in the first half, the Madrid man cleverly turning inside Gerard Pique before scooping his shot over Madrid club-mate Iker Casillas.

The effort was dropping into the net but Nani raced in from an offside position to head the ball in from point-blank range, leading to the goal being disallowed.

Manchester United's Nani said after the game: "I touched the ball because I thought I wasn't offside. Everything happened so quickly.

"After having time to think about it I apologised to Ronaldo. It was a great piece of play and I shouldn't have ruined it."

Ronaldo, who threw his captain's armband onto the pitch in anger after the goal was disallowed, felt the ball had already crossed the line before Nani got to it.

"I don't understand, even a blind man could see it was a goal, the ball was half a metre into the net," he told Marca.

"I don't know if it's a coincidence or not but my best goals with the national team are being disallowed. I remember an overhead kick in the Bessa stadium which wasn't given."

That incident did not end up costing Portugal dear as it would go on to record an emphatic victory over its Iberian neighbour, gaining some measure of revenge for its World Cup exit in the process.

Spain beat Portugal in the last-16 in South Africa before going on to be crowned world champion for the first time.

Nani, speaking to RTP, said of his side's victory in Lisbon: "The squad have been fantastic. It's an excellent group and we are united in trying to defend well and score goals.

"With the players that we have and when we are playing well, we are going to be capable of scoring a lot of goals to win matches."

Goals by Carlos Martins, veteran Helder Postiga and Hugo Almedia, plus an own goal to Sergio Ramos, saw Portugal to an easy victory over Spain, whose defence has leaked goals post the World Cup victory - even conceding two to lowly Scotland in a Euro 2012 qualifier.

Portugal ended the first-half the stronger side as first Cristiano Ronaldo looked to have scored as he outrageously chipped his Real Madrid team-mate Iker Casillas, and his former Manchester United team-mate Nani helped it on its way but it was ruled out because the latter player was offside.

Emboldened by that, the host side pushed forward and Barcelona defender Gerard Pique did well to clear off the line from Martins but there was no stopping him a few minutes later.

It was Ronaldo who set the goal up as he forced Casillas into parrying his shot only for Martins to be on hand to knock it home.

Spain had as ever played some delightful football but only really threatened once to break the deadlock when David Silva was found unmarked by Joan Capdevila but he put his header wide.

The host side and the world champion made three personnel changes apiece at half-time but it was Portugal who appeared to get the boost from those and quickly added a second.

It was a superb goal too as Liverpool's Raul Meireles started the move before passing the ball to Nani who then laid it off to Joao Moutinho who found Postiga and his shot was deflected into the goal by Ramos.

Postiga was on hand to put the match beyond doubt as he knocked home another superb pass by the impressive Moutinho and Almeida twisted the knife further with an injury-time effort.

The 32-year-old suffered the injury his side's 1-0 win over Sporting Gijon, although he managed to last the 90 minutes.

A statement on Real's website read: "Ricardo Carvalho sustained a bruised left ankle during Sunday's match against Sporting and is undergoing observation."

Cristiano Ronaldo's stunning free-kick gave the Iberian side the best possible start but it was stunned when Helgi Danielsson levelled for the host.

Liverpool midfielder Raul Meireles struck to put it back in front just before the half-hour mark and substitute Helder Postiga sealed the win in the second half.

Real Madrid star Ronaldo opened the scoring in just the third minute after Heidar Helguson had fouled Carlos Martins, producing a trademark set-piece that left Gunnleifur Gunnleifsson with no chance.

But to its credit the host wasted little time in getting itself back on level terms as Danielsson got on the scoresheet in the 18th minute.

Indridi Sigurdsson whipped an excellent cross into the box and the midfielder was on hand to power a header into the roof of the net.

Hugo Almeida dragged an effort wide as Portugal looked to respond before Meireles re-established its lead after 27 minutes, drilling home from fully 25 yards.

Gunnleifsson tipped another Ronaldo effort round the post as the visitor piled on the pressure and Meireles unleashed a fierce drive from way out which crashed against the crossbar.

After that succession of first half action the second stanza proved to be a more sedate affair, although Manchester United winger Nani forced Gunnleifsson into another agile save with just over 20 minutes remaining.

And Postiga made the points safe as he was left with the simple task of tapping home Ronaldo's ball across the six-yard box.

Ronaldo blazed over the bar as he looked to further extend his side's advantage, with Sporting Lisbon striker Postiga also missing a fine chance to grab his second of the game as his side moved up to second in the table - having played one game more than its rival.

The world's most expensive player had got on the scoresheet just once in Madrid`s opening seven league and UEFA Champions League matches, and that goal came from the penalty spot against Espanyol.

However, the £80 million ($130 million) signing from Manchester United was twice on target against Deportivo La Coruna, netting first and last in a 6-1 win which saw Madrid finally rediscover its shooting boots after scoring only nine times in its first seven fixtures under new coach Jose Mourinho.

Speaking on Wednesday after joining up with Portugal for international duty, Ronaldo was quoted as saying by Spanish newspaper Marca: "The goals have given me confidence, when you score and you play well the confidence grows. I`m feeling better all the time and ready to help the national side."

That can only be good news for Portugal, who host Denmark in its third Euro 2012 qualifying game in Porto on Saturday morning (AEST), having drawn 4-4 with Cyprus and lost 1-0 to Norway in its opening two matches in Group H.

Ronaldo, who missed both those games due to an ankle injury, said of his country's woes: "The past is the past, now we have to think about the present. If we win the next two games we will breath a little easier.

"We are in a difficult situation, but the team is very well. We`re anxious for Friday`s game to come, and to win."

After facing Denmark, Portugal, under the guidance of new coach Paulo Bento, travel to Iceland next week for its fourth qualifier.

Meanwhile, reflecting on the first six weeks of the Primera Division, Ronaldo believes this season`s title fight may not be limited to just a two-horse race between his side and Barcelona, as has been the case several times in recent campaigns.

Last season was a prime example, with Barca and Madrid occupying the top two spots for all but the opening weekend, with Pep Guardiola`s side eventually retaining its title with 99 points - three more than Madrid and a massive 28 more than third-placed Valencia.

However, Ronaldo believes it could be a different story this time around. Currently, Valencia lead the way with 16 points from six games, one more than second-placed Villarreal. Madrid is third with 14 points and Barca is fourth on 13.

He added: "We shouldn`t worry only about Barca, because other teams are doing very well also. For example Valencia are first in the table. We need to continue working hard to continue fighting for the league.

"The team (Madrid) have shown that we are getting better, we are growing and improving in many aspects. We're having a great start to the league."

The 30-year-old Monteiro, who plays at Valencia in Spain, won 59 caps for Portugal, but joins the likes of Deco, Simao Sabrosa and Paulo Ferreira in calling it quits.

Monteiro's decision comes just a day after Paulo Bento was named new national coach.

Bento takes over a team which has made a poor start to their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, drawing 4-4 with Cyprus and losing 1-0 to Norway to leave them in fourth place in Group H.

Portugal faces Denmark and Iceland in October.

The Portuguese Football Federation said in a statement on its website that Bento has accepted a contract through to the 2012 European Championship.

His only previous senior coaching experience was at Sporting Lisbon between 2005-09.

The 41-year-old Bento replaces Carlos Queiroz, who was fired earlier this month.

Queiroz's departure came while he was serving a suspension for misconduct and after Portugal took only one point from its first two qualifying games for Euro 2012.

The federation tried unsuccessfully to hire Real Madrid's Jose Mourinho as an interim coach for its next qualifiers, against Denmark on October 8 and Iceland four days later. Portugal is currently fourth in Group H with one point.

Bento led Sporting to two Portuguese Cup titles and four consecutive second-place finishes in the Portuguese league.

He took Sporting to the UEFA Cup quarter-finals in 2008, and the team reached the last 16 of the Champions League the following year.

He quit in November 2009 after the club failed to win a league match in two months.

Bento made 35 appearances for Portugal as a defensive midfielder before retiring in 2003.

The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) has earmarked Mourinho as the man they want to lead the national team for the Euro 2012 qualifiers against Denmark on October 8 and Iceland four days later while it goes about appointing a full-time successor to Carlos Queiroz.

But in a press conference on Friday, reported on www.marca.com, he said: "If it were not for Real Madrid I would do it for free.

"But if you ask me right now if I can go, I think not.

"I have a contract with Real Madrid.

"I do not say no, but in the natural way of things, I do not think this is the time."

The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) has earmarked Mourinho as the man it wants to lead the national team for the Euro 2012 qualifiers against Denmark on October 8 and Iceland four days later while it goes about appointing a full-time successor to Carlos Queiroz.

Queiroz was sacked last week after being handed a six-month suspension for insulting anti-doping agents prior to the FIFA World Cup.

But Casillas believes former Inter Milan, Chelsea and Porto boss Mourinho has enough on his plate at the Bernabeu and will not be interested in taking on the role.

He said: "I think it would give him too much.

"I am sure he would like to coach Portugal but his head only thinks of Madrid.

"I don't think he will go. I have talked to him and his mind is set on Madrid."

Reports in Portugal claimed FPF president Gilberto Madail had travelled to Madrid to meet with Mourinho's agent, Jorge Mendes, in an attempt to broker a deal.

Former FPF president Joao Rodrigues has accompanied Madail on the trip, according to the reports, as he has good connections in Spain that could help secure Mourinho's short-term release.

Portugal is desperate to salvage its qualification campaign - having collected only one point from its opening two matches - as a failure to qualify would be seen as a huge blow to its bid to host the 2018 World Cup.

Record claims that FPF president Gilberto Madail has travelled to Madrid to meet with Mourinho's agent Jorge Mendes in an attempt to persuade the Real boss to oversee Portugal's games against Denmark on October 8 and Iceland four days later.

Portugal is without a coach following the sacking of Carlos Queiroz last week after he had been handed a six-month suspension for insulting anti-doping agents prior to the World Cup.

Former FPF president Joao Rodrigues has accompanied Madail on the trip, the Record reports, as he has good connections in Spain that could help secure Mourinho's short-term release from Real Madrid in order to take charge of the games.

Portugal is desperate to salvage its qualification campaign - having collected only one point from the opening two matches - as a failure to qualify would be seen as a huge blow to the country's bid to host the 2018 World Cup.

Reports had suggested Sporting Lisbon boss Paulo Bento was to take the job, but he denied that yesterday.

"I want to make clear that I did not sign any contract nor have I been contacted by someone from the federation," he said on TVI 24.

"I spent the day at home and have not signed anything."

"I would like Aragones to be the new national coach because he is very experienced, but my conviction is that national teams should be coached by men from the country itself," he told a news conference.

"I don't like to see Portugal lose or draw games. I hope things change. They have good enough players to turn the situation around."

Aragones, 72, coached Spain between 2004 and 2008. He is credited with laying the foundations for Spain's FIFA World Cup win this year by guiding the team to the Euro 2008 title with the introduction of a short-passing style.

"I am keen to coach in any place. I would go to any national team or club outside of Spain. I want to continue working," Aragones told Spanish radio station Cadena COPE on Tuesday.

Portugal's football federation sacked Queiroz after a disciplinary feud sparked by a six-month ban for insulting officials from the country's anti-doping body.

The former Manchester United boss, who took over in July 2008, also paid a heavy price for a loss of form that saw his team struggle to reach the World Cup and pick up just a point from its opening two Euro 2012 qualifiers.

Portuguese media has tipped former international player and Sporting Lisbon coach Paulo Bento to take over from Queiroz.

Humberto Coelho, who guided the national side to the semi-finals at Euro 2000, is another name cited by the press.

Portugal is second from bottom of Group H in its Euro 2012 qualifying table with one point from its first two qualifiers having lost 1-0 in Norway following a 4-4 draw at home to Cyprus.

The Portuguese Football Federation confirmed the news, just two days after the national team suffered a surprise 1-0 defeat at the hands of Norway in the latest round of Euro 2012 qualifiers.

Queiroz is currently serving a six-month ban for his alleged misbehaviour during an anti-doping testing session at a training camp in the run-up to the FIFA World Cup, and was not on the bench for his side's defeat.

Portugal was also held to a 4-4 draw with Cyprus in its opening qualifier last week, and the team's lack of performance on the pitch, allied to Queiroz's alleged misdemeanour off it, has forced the Portuguese federation to act.

The former Manchester United assistant manager had two years remaining on his contract with the Portuguese federation.

A federation statement read: "Given the recent events, and after reviewing the current situation concerning the national coach, the directorate of the FPF decided unanimously [to end] the contract ... with the national coach, Carlos Queiroz, with immediate effect.

"This decision was communicated to Carlos Queiroz."

The statement added that the search for new coach would begin immediately with a view to having a new man in place in time for the team's next qualifier at home to Denmark on 8 October.

The statement added: "[The FPF will] start immediately contacts and talks with a view to hiring a technician who performs the functions of national coach in time to prepare and lead the team in the forthcoming qualifying matches for Euro 2012."

This year has been dogged by controversy for Queiroz, with the 57-year-old involved in a physical altercation with a Portuguese journalist in February, while there were reports of a World Cup spat with Deco prior to his alleged run-in with Portugal's anti-doping authority.

Agostinho Oliveira has deputised for Queiroz in Portugal's opening two Euro 2012 qualifiers, with the stand-in coach presiding over the country's worst start to a qualifying campaign since 1996.

Portugal is currently second from bottom in Group H and already trails leader Norway by five points.

A Portuguese Football Federation board meeting on Thursday is expected to discuss Queiroz's future amid growing demands for him to be replaced.

A 1-0 loss at Norway came after a 4-4 draw at home against lowly Cyprus and constituted Portugal's worst start to a qualifying campaign since 1996.

Queiroz is also set to miss Portugal's next two qualifiers in October after he was suspended for disrupting an anti-doping test ahead of the FIFA World Cup.

The coach is fighting possible dismissal, denying wrongdoing and saying he will appeal the suspension.

Portugal's dull performance in Oslo suggested the players are feeling the strain of what daily sports paper O Jogo called a 'soap opera' surrounding Queiroz's stewardship. 'That's enough disasters!' the paper's front-page headline said on Wednesday.

The team, missing injured Cristiano Ronaldo, looked unsettled and uncertain in both matches. With Deco and Simao Sabrosa both recently retired from international football, the Portuguese lacked an inspirational playmaker.

"I don't think things are going very well on or off the pitch," captain Ricardo Carvalho said after the Norway game where Queiroz's assistant Agostinho Oliveira was once again in charge.

Bruno Alves, Carvalho's partner in central defence, said, "We just want everything to be fine again, we just want someone to make a decision for everyone's sake."

The 57-year-old coach, Sir Alex Ferguson's former assistant at Manchester United, is just over halfway through a four-year contract.

His appointment has long been contested.

Portugal's qualification for the World Cup was a bumpy ride. Three 0-0 draws, including one at home against 10-man Albania, dropped the team to fifth in the group before it recovered to qualify through the playoffs.

In a disappointing campaign in South Africa, Portugal went out in the second round against eventual champion Spain, though it was ranked third in the world by FIFA.

Portugal's Sports Institute, which governs the National Anti-Doping Agency, ruled last week that Queiroz disrupted an anti-doping test ahead of the World Cup and suspended him for six months.

The Portuguese Football Federation earlier this month suspended Queiroz for one month on a charge of misconduct related to the same incident in May. But it said that though he had used foul language with the inspectors he had not disrupted the test itself.

Queiroz has said he will appeal the six-month ban at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland.

However, it is unclear if the suspension would be lifted pending the outcome of his challenge.

Portugal was held to a 4-4 draw with Cyprus in its Group H opener and was unable to respond after Erik Huseklepp gave the host a 21st-minute lead at the Ullevaal Stadion, leaving Portugal languishing in fourth place in the pool.

Denmark also won by a 1-0 scoreline at home to Iceland in the other Group H match, an injury-time goal from Thomas Kahlenberg securing the three points.

Both teams led twice as the game freewheeled from end to end, with first-half goals from Efstathios Aloneftis and Michael Constantinou cancelled out by Portugal's Hugo Almeida and Raul Meireles.

The home team led through Danny and Manuel Fernandes in the second period, but Yiannis Okkas and Avraam drew Cyprus level.

Portugal was caught by an early bolt from the blue as Aloneftis' low 20-yard drive found the corner of the net.

Marinos Satsias failed to emulate his team-mate's long-range efforts and the hosts then quickly levelled as Almeida headed in Nani's cross in the eighth minute.

Cyprus was happy to let fly from range at any opportunity and Eduardo had to hold Konstantinos Makridis' strike before the visitors restored its lead in the 11th minute, Constantinou finishing low after the ball broke to him in the penalty box.

Fabio Coentrao and Meireles fired over as Portugal again looked to bounce back and Nani then drew a sharp block from visiting keeper Antonis Georgallides, who then held Miguel's 30-yard shot - still with just 20 minutes on the clock.

Meireles drew Portugal level for a second time in the 29th minute, the Liverpool newcomer beating Georgallides with a low drive from 20 yards.

Elias Charalambous blocked efforts from Danny and Manuel Fernandes before Satsias tested Eduardo from range as Cyprus eased the spell of pressure on its defence.

Portugal twice went close before half-time, Ricardo Carvalho heading Ricardo Quaresma's corner over before Georgallides tipped Fabio Coentrao's drive around the post.

Four minutes after the interval, Danny put his side in front for the first time when he headed in another Quaresma corner.

The advantage lasted just seven minutes as Okkas fired home right-footed to level matters at 3-3.

But Portugal almost immediately restored its lead, with Quaresma again the provider from a corner as Manuel Fernandes fired home.

Quaresma was denied the chance to add his own name to the scoresheet, Georgallides tipping over both his 25-yard effort and then Nani's free-kick.

Constantinou tested Eduardo but Portugal looked more likely to add to its lead, Quaresma denied by Georgallides before Liedson, on as a substitute for Danny, hit the post.

Constantinou curled a free-kick over and two Makridis corners came to nothing but Cyprus got its equaliser with two minutes remaining.

Constantinou's effort was fumbled up in the air by Eduardo and Avraam headed home the loose ball to earn a sensational point from a game which - with eight goals, chances galore and only a solitary booking, for Charalambous - represented everything to enjoy about football.

News of the suspension had first surfaced in the local media on Monday with Queiroz saying then he would appeal the sanction "before the court of arbitration for sport".

The under fire Portugal coach has asked for the ban which he termed "erroneous and abusive" to be suspended pending his appeal.

The former Manchester United assistant manager is already serving a one month ban dished out by the Portuguese Football Federation for insulting officials who had turned up to test his players at a pre-World Cup training camp in May.

In a statement AdoP claimed Queiroz had "hindered the collecting of samples" as a result of "the hostile environment generated around the operation".

Queirez is also accused of injuring AdoP president Luis Horta.

The 57-year-old will miss Portugal's first two Euro 2012 qualifiers on Friday (Saturday morning AEST) and next Tuesday (Wednesday morning AEST), as well as a further two qualifiers in October.

He faces trouble on a separate front after accusing Portugal Football Federation vice president Amandio de Carvalho of trying to get him kicked out of his job.

Queiroz took over in July 2008 with a contract which runs until 2012.

He was heavily criticised for Portugal's World Cup finals campaign where they went out in the last 16, losing to eventual champions Spain.

Chelsea player Ferreira made the decision after being called into the squad for his country's opening two Euro 2012 qualifiers.

The 31-year-old has informed the Portuguese Football Federation of his decision.

Ferreira made 62 appearances for Portugal, his debut coming in a friendly against England at Villa Park in 2002.

He was a substitute in the final of Euro 2004 in his home country, coming off the bench but unable to prevent Portugal losing to Greece.

Ferreira played at the 2006 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2008 but made just one appearance at the 2010 World Cup.

Ronaldo, 25, the world's most expensive player, suffered a badly sprained right ankle in Real's disappointing 0-0 debut draw away to Mallorca, after being tackled early on by defender Pablo Cendros.

He played on until the end of the match, making the sprain worse.

The Portuguese winger has been plagued by problems in his right ankle for three years. In autumn 2009 he was out of action for two months with a similar sprain.

Real will send a report to the Portuguese football federation about Ronaldo's injury, in the hope that he will not be called up for Portugal's upcoming matches against Cyprus and Norway.

He will miss Real's Liga match against Osasuna on September 12 and also their Champions League debut against Ajax three days later.

According to Portuguese TV channel SIC, the country's anti-doping authority has decided on the punishment because of the coach's alleged behaviour during a testing session at a training camp in the run-up to the World Cup.

The former Real Madrid coach is already serving a one-month ban handed to him by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) because of the same incident, putting him out of action for the upcoming Euro 2012 qualifiers against Cyprus and Norway.

He was also fined for misconduct when he was found to have acted aggressively towards the testers, but the disciplinary committee (CD) stopped short of finding he had interfered with proceedings.

Both Queiroz and the federation said they had not been made aware of the decision of the anti-doping authority (ADoP).

In a statement released through his solicitors, Queiroz said: "According to some reports, the ADoP has found proof - unlike the CD of FPF - of breach and disturbance of anti-doping activity and has determined a six-month sentence.

"Neither I nor my solicitors have received any notification of this, making - if it is confirmed - the media the first to be informed of the decisions, ahead of the accused.

"As for me, what matters is not the decision, but the lack of any wrongdoing (as was recognised by the FPF). So I confirm that I will appeal this decision to the right institutions, namely to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

"I will request, based on the statutory rules of CAS, that the decision be suspended until the appeal is heard."

The FPF refused to comment on the reports, as they awaited official notification.

A statement on the federation's website read: "Further to reports regarding the anti-doping authority's decision to punish national coach Carlos Queiroz, the Portuguese Football Federation has not been notified of the decision, so it will not make any comment until after further investigations."

Ronaldo is expected to miss three weeks with an ankle injury suffered in Real Madrid's Primera Division opener against Real Mallorca.

"After several contacts with the doctors of Real Madrid, which included seeing the results of the MRI scan carried out today, the medical team came to the conclusion that Ronaldo should not travel to Portugal," said a statement from the Portuguese Football Federation.

"In order to not run the risk of worsening the condition, he has been released from the national team."

It is thought the FPF is considering dismissing Queiroz, following a disappointing two years in charge, and is in talks with Aragones, who steered Spain to Euro 2008 success.

However, the FPF claims Queiroz will be at the helm for the Euro 2012 qualifiers.

A statement read: "Following after yet another rumour given by the press, according to which Luis Aragones has been sounded out about becoming the new coach of the Portugal national team, the Portuguese Football Federation has to categorically deny and refute the content of the alleged news.

"The FPF never came into contact, directly or through intermediaries, with Luis Aragones (who, incidentally, has repeatedly denied the rumour) or any other coach, to replace the national coach, Carlos Queiroz, who has a valid contract until 2012."

Queiroz has been in charge of Portugal since 2008 and led it to the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, where it lost out to eventual winner Spain at the last 16 stage.

This year has been dogged by controversy for him as the former Manchester United assistant was involved in a physical altercation with a Portuguese journalist in February, while there were reports of a World Cup spat with Deco and allegations Queiroz had also insulted members of Portugal's anti-doping authority.

The sending home of Nani through injury was also badly explained and matters went from bad to worse as Portugal and in particular star man Cristiano Ronaldo misfired in South Africa.

The incident occurred in May, at a training camp where the Portugal team was preparing for the FIFA World Cup.

Queiroz was reportedly annoyed at the repeated testing of several of his players and allegedly hurled abuse at the anti-doping committee and in particular president Luis Horta.

"The matter is with the federation to be evaluated," Secretary of State Laurentino Dias told Radio Renascenca.

"The facts that were established in the investigation oblige the federation to study them.

"If they were not serious facts there would not have been any investigation, or it would have been archived."

Queiroz has been in charge of Portugal since 2008 and led it to the World Cup in South Africa, where it lost out to eventual winner Spain at the last 16 stage.

This year has been dogged by controversy for him as the former Manchester United assistant was involved in a physical altercation with a Portuguese journalist in February, while there were reports of a World Cup spat with Deco.

The sending home of Nani through injury was also badly explained while Portugal and in particular star man Cristiano Ronaldo misfired in South Africa.

Queiroz has a contract until after the European championships in two years, but reports suggest the federation could use this latest incident as a way to dismiss the 57-year-old.

The post in question says that the 25-year-old has "recently become a father" while Correio da Manha newspaper reported "Gestifute", the company which is run by the player's agent, as having confirmed the news.

According to the paper, which did not give a further source, "the baby's mother is from North America and she had her baby in early June".

Portuguese media added that a Facebook post had Ronaldo as saying: "With the agreement of the mother, who wishes to remain anonymous, I will have exclusive custody of my son."

Ronaldo, who last year became the world's most expensive player when he moved from Manchester United to Real, had a disappointing World Cup as his country was eliminated in the last 16 by Spain.

FIFA says its disciplinary committee found no grounds to open a case against the Portugal captain.

Ronaldo was being followed by a television cameraman filming him after the final whistle of his team's 1-0 defeat in Cape Town.

The former FIFA world player of the year appeared to stare into the lens then spit near the camera operator's feet.

FIFA's disciplinary panel had the option to issue a warning, fine or impose a match suspension.

While 2008 world player of the year Ronaldo was again subdued as his Portugal side was eliminated from the FIFA World Cup, Villa scored his fourth goal of the competition for a 1-0 win that took Spain into the quarter-finals and moved him top of the tournament scoring charts with Gonzalo Higuain and Robert Vittek.

"David Villa is on fire, which is really good news for us," Spain defender Gerard Pique said.

Villa showed the sort of lethal finishing against Portugal that Ronaldo has been lacking for his national side.

First shooting with his left foot to force goalkeeper Eduardo into a save, he followed up the rebound with his right foot for a 63rd-minute winner.

Ronaldo was billed as one of the top stars coming into the tournament in South Africa but left much as England's Wayne Rooney did: with bitter disappointment.

Ronaldo did not speak to reporters after the match but vented his frustration on his agent's website.

"I feel devastated, completely broken hearted, frustrated and unimaginably sad," Ronaldo said. "I know I'm the captain, I have always faced up to my responsibilities, and I always will."

But momentum is with Villa. Even before coming to South Africa, Villa already had his big club move from Valencia to Barcelona in the bag. It allowed him to fully concentrate what he does best - score goals.

And with seven World Cup goals overall, the 28-year old already is Spain's best ever at the tournament.

There is only one key to Villa's success.

"To keep scoring," Villa said. "It was one of my best goals because it got us through to the next round. Keep scoring so we can keep going."

The strike left Villa with 42 goals in 62 games, just two short of the 44 in 102 racked up by Raul, Spain's icon in the game.

On top of scoring, Villa was constant threat on the left, continuing to pound Portugal with surging runs and powerful shots.

Half-an-hour after the game, hundreds of Spanish fans were still singing Villa's praises. Again, Villa will be an overwhelming favourite to score when Spain plays Paraguay at Ellis Park.

How different the fortunes of Cristiano Ronaldo have been. Not that he lacked support among the 62,955 fans at the Green Point Stadium.

One banner read 'Marry me Ronaldo'. Three girls each had a banner 'Ro' 'Nal' and 'Do'. Others wore Portuguese jerseys with Ronaldo's photo printed on the front.

It also showed Ronaldo's predicament. When Villa has an off day, there is Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez or Fernando Torres to absorb the pressure.

The loss showed that during the biggest games, Portugal still relies too heavily on Ronaldo. And the Real Madrid forward sometimes has trouble dealing with it.

Right before the opening whistle, Ronaldo pleaded to the heavens with outstretched arms, seemingly begging to make his mark on a huge game. It didn't work.

Villa turns it on when it matters - three goals at the 2006 World Cup, top scorer with four goals at Euro 2008 and four already in South Africa.

Ronaldo scored one penalty in 2006, one goal at Euro 2008 and one goal in South Africa.

When he came to Real Madrid from Manchester United as the world's most expensive player, just showing up for the fan presentation filled the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

He was supposed to end a trophy drought for Real Madrid and get it into the UEFA Champions League final that his club hosted. He failed on those counts despite scoring 26 goals in 29 matches in his debut season.

And in the high-stakes rivalry with Barcelona, he will be facing a surging Villa next season.

Carlos Queiroz's side is heading home from South Africa following a 1-0 defeat by Spain in Cape Town.

Portugal managed to score in only one of its four matches in the finals - albeit an impressive 7-0 bludgeoning of minnows Korea DPR - and failed to take what chances did come its way against the European champion.

Much of the blame must be placed on Cristiano Ronaldo's shoulders, after the team captain and former world player of the year produced a series of insipid performances.

Chelsea centre-back Carvalho was not about to name names, with the likes of Simao Sabrosa, Danny and Hugo Almeida also disappointing, but admitted the forwards were not firing on all cylinders.

"I think you need more offensively," Carvalho told Press Association Sport.

"We defended well but you have to create more chances to score. We were just playing on the counter-attack and I think you need more to win this kind of game.

"Everyone wants to do better but the reality was sometimes we lost the ball quickly and it was difficult because Spain had more possession and were more dangerous.

"Of course, we had one or two chances and if you score then it could be different. But in the end we should do more offensively to try to win the game."

Carvalho, who enjoyed a near faultless personal campaign in which Portugal conceded just one goal, added: "It's the performance during the whole competition, just defending more. We defended well and didn't create too many chances, though we've got great players to do it.

"We defend as a team but we also have to create as a team.

"We had chances to score ourselves and maybe change the game but in the second half they scored. I think it was a little bit offside as well, but they had the luck to score and after that it was difficult."

Indeed, David Villa's 63rd-minute winner for Spain looked offside as he raced through to meet Xavi's clever backheel. On a different night, Portugal - for whom Ricardo Costa was sent off in the 89th minute - may have even won it, with arguably the clearer chances falling in its lap.

Carvalho will be 36 by the time the next World Cup comes around in 2014 and he admits it is difficult to consider the prospect of such a long wait.

"At this moment it's difficult to think about another World Cup in four years. I feel good (physically) but at this moment it is difficult," he said.

"You have always got to dream of playing one final and I haven't given up yet."

Ronaldo once again failed to reproduce his club form on the international stage as Portugal went out of the FIFA World Cup, losing 1-0 to Spain in the last-16.

While the 25-year-old Real Madrid star has denied criticising Queiroz for the team's exit, he revealed in comments on a website owned by his agent that he felt like a broken man and had never felt such sadness.

However, his emotional comments failed to move Queiroz, who along with Ronaldo was savaged in the Portuguese press.

The player was criticised for being virtually anonymous during the finals while the coach was accused of a lack of imagination and ambition.

"We are not unaware of those remarks, but we are not here to be friends with the players," said the 57-year-old Queiroz, who got to know Ronaldo well during his time as Sir Alex Ferguson's assistant at Manchester United.

"One must never allow anyone placing himself above the best interests of the national side.

"Portugal needs Ronaldo, and Ronaldo needs the national side. But if this shirt (the Portuguese strip) unnerves some players, they have no grounds to be there."

Queiroz's side conceded only one goal in its four matches but only scored in one of them - the 7-0 humbling of Korea DPR.

"If I have to spend all my life telling players that they must suppress their emotions then I will do so," said Queiroz, who had already been criticised during Portugal's qualifying campaign which saw it only reach South Africa through the play-offs.

Queiroz has had his authority challenged with veteran midfielder Deco in particular voicing openly his displeasure at the tactics deployed by the coach in the opening 0-0 draw with Cote d'Ivoire.

Deco laid bare the tensions in the dressing room after the defeat by Spain when asked if there was a good atmosphere.

"Between the players, yes," said the Brazil-born veteran.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho came to the defence of Ronaldo, saying he won't allow the superstar to be a scapegoat in Spain next season.

"Ronaldo can go away on vacation with piece of mind. Next season, I will not permit him to be weighed down with all the irresponsibilities of one team," Mourinho told the Portuguese Lusa news agency.

"In my teams, when we win, we all win, but when we lose, it is me who loses."

It was that kind of World Cup for the most expensive player in the game. While millions tuned in to see some magic from the highly acclaimed winger, Ronaldo didn't really leave a major impression on the World Cup before Portugal's second-round elimination on Tuesday (Wednesday morning AEST).

His statistics in South Africa tell only part of the story: a late goal in a 7-0 rout of lowly North Korea, some impressive free-kicks, and one brilliant turn and shot that struck the post in Portugal's opener against Cote d'Ivoire.

But his performance on and off the ball over six hours of competitive play didn't make him one of the standout players of the tournament.

And this was only 18 months on from being named world player of the year, in the prime of his career at 25, in good health and brimming with confidence.

Ronaldo's performance in Portugal's 1-0 loss to Spain doesn't rank among his best.

When the ball first swung his way in the 5th minute, Ronaldo missed it completely. He whipped in a good cross and sent a dangerous, dipping free kick at goal in the 28th minute, but then was kept quiet by the Spanish defence when what Portugal really needed was a some match-winning moments of inspiration.

Still, Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz defended the performance of his captain.

"He is our leader, our captain," Queiroz said. The decision over captain "belongs to the federation and the national coach. Because we did that, you must believe we did that for the right reason."

Queiroz didn't elaborate, and Ronaldo left Cape Town's Green Point Stadium without speaking to reporters.

Ronaldo scored 26 goals in 29 matches in his debut season at Real Madrid, after his record move from Manchester United. Because of it, he was widely tipped to join England's Wayne Rooney and Argentina's Lionel Messi as the key figures of the World Cup. But only Messi has truly lived up to the hype.

True, Ronaldo often faced two or three defenders, cutting down his attacking options. But even in one-on-one situations, he wasn't brilliant.

"It's very difficult to focus on Cristiano Ronaldo and try to neutralise his game," Spain coach Vicente del Bosque said. "We tried to mark him when he came into the area, and basically neutralised his efforts."

Spain's centre-back pairing of Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol know Ronaldo well, having helped stopped him from a scoring a goal in FC Barcelona's season sweep of Real Madrid. Those wins proved the difference as Barca edged Real for the title.

His supporters hoped a glorious World Cup run would highlight Ronaldo's career and set him among the greats. A well-publicised commercial showed him setting up in his classic stance for a free-kick as Portugal's citizens prepared to unveil a marble monument in his honour and the story of his World Cup triumph was being filmed.

But, like at the European Championship two years ago, Ronaldo didn't reach the expected heights.

And as the match ended, a frustrated Ronaldo appeared to spit on the ground as he walked off.

Ronaldo's South Africa 2010 campaign was over.

Del Bosque's side now moves on to face Paraguay in the last eight after an excellent performance in Cape Town which was only rewarded when Villa found the net in the second half.

The striker's overall performance was also key, however, as he selflessly stretched the play by coming in from the flank and offered protection to the midfield.

"David scored that goal which was enough for us to qualify," Del Bosque said.

"But I should underline the great work he has done because he's also contributed in other ways, for example defensively.

"That was extremely important tonight.

"There are three areas a team has to dominate to win. We controlled the ball, had depth to our game and a solid defence as well.

"But otherwise I wouldn't say anything negative about Portugal. They were very good on the attack, but we have very good defenders. They've done a fantastic job."

Del Bosque's side dominated on the ball as usual but had been frustrated for long periods by Portugal, which had decent chances of its own at Cape Town's Green Point Stadium.

Ultimately Spain's patience paid off, however, as Villa's 63rd-minute goal secured victory exactly two years to the day since its European triumph in Austria.

Spain will now fancy itself in a quarter-final clash with modest South American team Paraguay while Portugal - which had Ricardo Costa dismissed in the final minute - faces a disappointing trip home.

Portugal boss Carlos Queiroz was gracious in defeat.

"Our time at this World Cup is now over," he said. "Congratulations to the Spanish team, we wish they have success until the end of the World Cup.

"Everyone saw it was an extremely difficult game for us. Generally, it must be recognised that Spain moved the ball extremely well and had a greater degree of possession.

"Any team that does this will have a better chance."

He added: "We had a number of opportunities, in the first half and the second, but unfortunately we couldn't score. We allowed Spain to score to go 1-0 up because we allowed them to play the football they play.

"This made our attacking moves more difficult. We could have scored at certain moments but I think Spain's win is justified."

Vicente Del Bosque's side dominated on the ball as usual but was frustrated for long periods by Portugal, which had decent chances of its own at Cape Town's Green Point Stadium.

Ultimately Spain's patience paid off, however, as David Villa's 63rd-minute goal secured victory exactly two years to the day since its European triumph in Austria.

Spain will now fancy itself in a quarter-final clash with modest South American team Paraguay while Portugal - which had Ricardo Costa dismissed in the final minute - faces a disappointing trip home.

Fernando Torres, without a goal in South Africa, tested Portugal goalkeeper Eduardo after just a minute and strike partner Villa also forced an early save.

The lively start continued when Villa, coming in from the left again, fired in a low effort which Eduardo stopped smartly.

Another Torres shot from a short corner was not too far over the bar but for all Spain's dominance, he and Villa were largely restricted to playing out wide.

Portugal had perhaps the best chance so far in the 20th minute. Midfielder Tiago tried his luck from the edge of the box and after Iker Casillas could only push it high into the air, he had to scramble it away near his own goal-line.

Xavi and Villa tried their luck at the other end before Spain teammate Xabi Alonso saw a couple of long-range attempts stifled.

Portugal had a clear chance in the 39th minute when Almeida was unable to properly connect with Raul Meireles' cross, to the disappointment of a better-placed Cristiano Ronaldo behind him.

Casillas raced out to halt Simao's run at goal before Tiago headed over a good chance.

Seven minutes into the second half Spain defender Gerard Pique was outpaced by Almeida down the left and when the Werder Bremen striker's attempted centre deflected off Carles Puyol's thigh, the defender was relieved to see the ball go narrowly wide.

Portugal boss Carlos Queiroz sent Danny on for Almeida while Vicente Del Bosque sacrificed Torres for target man Fernando Llorente just before the hour mark.

In the 60th minute there was nearly an immediate impact as Llorente's diving header from Sergio Ramos' cross was somehow saved by Eduardo at point-blank range, before Villa curled one just wide.

The breakthrough came seconds later. Typically intricate build-up play saw Andres Iniesta feed Xavi who backheeled beautifully to the on-rushing Villa. The striker saw his first shot saved well by Eduardo but hammered the rebound high into the net.

Eduardo then got down brilliantly to turn away Ramos' drive from the right before Queiroz sent on striker Liedson and midfielder Pedro Mendes.

Again Eduardo was called upon to parry a shot, this time from Villa, while at the other end Portugal talisman Ronaldo was dreadfully quiet.

Villa's cross enabled Llorente to head just wide before the goalscorer was taken off for a rest, replaced by Pedro.

Danny had a dangerous-looking shot blocked well by Pique but moments later Portugal were down to 10 men when referee Hector Baldassi suddenly produced a red card, for defender Costa, for apparently lashing out at Joan Capdevila.

Del Bosque's side was among the pre-tournament favourites but was stunned when Switzerland snatched victory in its first group match in South Africa.

Spain rallied to beat Honduras and Chile, securing a last-16 showdown with Iberian rivals Portugal, and while Del Bosque refused to retrospectively regard the Switzerland defeat as a positive, he admitted it has served a purpose.

Ahead of Tuesday's (Wednesday 04.30 AEST) showdown with Portugal in Cape Town, he said: "That first stumble versus Switzerland has been highly motivating psychologically.

"The group knows our targets and we're feeling fine.

"I don't think a defeat is ever good. It was damaging to us and we were very anxious because we thought we were going to be facing many difficulties. I don't think we had to learn any lessons, though, because this group is very humble and modest.

"We were not floating along on cloud nine at all, we fully realise that every match is difficult in itself."

Meanwhile, David Villa has launched a staunch defence of his strike partner Fernando Torres.

While Villa has scored three goals from as many matches, Torres has yet to find the net in South Africa having only recovered from a knee injury just before the tournament.

Villa insists the squad are oblivious to negative reviews of Torres' performances so far.

"First of all I haven't really heard any criticism of Fernando and I certainly don't share a view of his performances being lacklustre," said the Barcelona-bound striker.

"Perhaps he hasn't scored a goal but he's done spectacular work. He really is very happy in the squad, he's made an enormous effort to help this team. Let's remember what state he was in with his knee a month ago.

"He is supporting the team with his play, so I'm very thankful to him and I think his performances have been very good.

"He is doing some excellent work, but forwards are always measured by the goals they score and I'm totally convinced that if he continues working as well as he is, he will score goals."

Portugal boss Carlos Queiroz expects a potential classic when his men clash with their Iberian rivals.

"It is a regional rivalry between the teams and it is also a social, cultural and historical rivalry between two nations," he said. "Therefore the game between Portugal and Spain is always a mouthwatering game, I'm sure of that. Just like 'derbies' between, say, England and Germany."

Barca snuffed out the threat posed by Ronaldo in two games against Real Madrid last season, with Guardiola's men running out 1-0 winners at the Nou Camp and beating its fierce rival 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu.

And Xavi says his coach's instructions worked to a tee.

"I remember perfectly (what he told us)," the midfielder told Marca.

"He told us to be careful with the balls played to him (Ronaldo) from deep and which he could run onto at speed.

"He told us to only allow him to receive short passes to feet and we had to mark him with help from team-mates, and cover each other, but never let passes be played to him from deep. That kills you.

"We marked him pretty well in both games."

Xavi believes Portugal will sit back and look to hit Spain on the break with the pace of Ronaldo in Tuesday's (Wednesday morning AEST) match.

"They will get men back, they will allow us to dominate and they will look for the speed of Cristiano, of Simao (Sabrosa)," he said.

"Physically they are a strong team. Not only have they not let in a goal at the World Cup, but in their recent games they have only let in three - they are hard and aggressive."

Xavi says Spain has the right personnel at the back to stop Ronaldo, but has warned his teammates that Portugal is not a one-man team.

"Between (Gerard) Pique, Puyi (Carles Puyol) and Sergio (Ramos) he shouldn't be able to break free, but we must not become obsessed with him - Portugal is not just Ronaldo," he said.

The 30 year-old, meanwhile, hopes Spain can avoid going the same way the likes of Italy, France and England, who are all out of the competition already.

"The World Cup is unfair," he said.

"Only one (team) is laughing at the end and the other 31 end up disappointed.

"Look at England - they came here as favourites, they have lost one game and now they are at home. That's why I say it's unfair."

Queiroz's Portugal meets the European champion in a highly-anticipated FIFA World Cup knockout clash in Cape Town.

Spain is revered for its footballing philosophy based on the 'tiki-taka' passing play of Barcelona, but Portugal has won plaudits too, not least for a 7-0 thrashing of Korea DPR in the group stage.

Queiroz has warned his side it must forget such previous performances and move on to a new level.

"This is going to be extremely difficult," he said. "Spain and Portugal play a style of football that, although somewhat similar, there are a number of differences between the two teams.

"I believe it's going to be a great game of football, a game with a lot of creativity, imagination, speed and great moves. At this stage, the round of 16, I expect a great show of football."

Queiroz believes the historic nature of the clash between two sides will only add extra spice.

"It is a regional rivalry between the teams and it is also a social, cultural and historical rivalry between two nations," he said.

"Therefore the game between Portugal and Spain is always a mouth-watering game, I'm sure of that. Just like 'derbies' between, say, England and Germany."

While respectful of Spain's threat, the former Real Madrid coach will ask his side to maintain its attacking ethos.

"We want to win this game from the very first minute," he added. "We don't know whether the duration of the game will be 90 minutes, 120 minutes or a penalty shoot-out. When you play a game of this nature, all that counts is that we move forward and score.

"My philosophy is that in a game of this nature, as a coach you have to take some risks.

"Our passes have to be decisive if we want to defeat Spain. We have to defend well, attack well and a Portuguese team always has to be on the attack."

He continued: "Spain has a great team, a very balanced team with great tradition and fantastic results.

"They are European champions but they are 11 players, just like us, and I expect it to be a great match. Our chances of progressing are as good as theirs.

"They have a good team but we also have a good team with first-class players at our disposal."

Danny is unlikely to keep his place in the Portugal side due to an injury suffered in the final group game against Brazil, but playmaker Deco should return from a hip problem.

Spain beat Chile 2-1 to top Group H and set up a match against its Iberian neighbour instead of having to play the five-time world champion.

"We want to go out there and cause Spain at least as many difficulties as the Brazilians would have done," Portugal winger Simao Sabrosa said.

"Maybe even more."

Portugal and Spain play each other in Cape Town on Wednesday morning (AEST), with the winner taking on Paraguay or Japan in the quarter-finals.

Brazil is now in the other half of the draw and could only become an opponent in the final July 12 (AEST).

Portugal finished second in Group G after a 0-0 draw with Brazil. Later, Spain won its group and did not hold back from showing its happiness about the outcome.

Spain defender Gerard Pique called it "fundamental to avoid teams like Brazil," and many of his teammates agreed.

Simao said he understands the cheer among Spanish players - but sent La Furia Roja a warning two days before the match.

"It's normal that you're happy when you're not having to play Brazil," 30-year-old Simao said. "But let's not forget that we are also a very strong team."

It's hard arguing with that. Portugal is on an unbeaten streak of 19 matches and has not conceded a goal in its three World Cup games so far, which also included a 0-0 draw with Côte d'Ivoire and a 7-0 demolition of Korea DPR.

Simao, who scored the second goal against the Asians, said it's about time that Portugal earns some more respect for its achievements.

"Everybody is talking about Spain all the time," said Simao, who plays with Atletico Madrid in the Spanish league since 2007.

"Sure, we have a lot of respect for them as well and they are the European champions. But that does not rule out what we've done over the last couple of years."

Portugal finished fourth at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, and reached the semi-finals of the 2000 European Championship and the final of the same competition four years later.

Simao, who is expected to play his 85th match for the national team Tuesday, said attention should not be just on Spain, but shifted toward Portugal as well.

"It's time that people start to talk about Portugal a bit more," Simao said.

"We deserve that."

Torres had to play catch-up with regards to his preparations for the World Cup after missing the majority of Spain's build-up having undergone knee surgery in April.

His only appearance in the warm-up matches came during Spain's final friendly against Poland, and although he managed to score in a 6-0 win in that match, he has failed to get off the mark in three Group H games in South Africa.

The former Atletico Madrid man has had the chances but has not been able to make the most of them.

Nevertheless, Del Bosque is still pleased with what Torres has contributed to Spain's qualification for the last 16, even it if has not been goals.

"What's important is that he's played in the three games and has progressed in his preparation," Del Bosque said.

"He's a player who even though he hasn't scored goals he benefits us as someone who makes it hard for opposing defences and who is always a threat to the other team. He's a very dangerous player."

Torres himself admits he is not yet back to full fitness, telling Radio Marca: "I'm still lacking a bit, it's not easy to return after an operation.

"I think I'm still a little away from being 100%, although I'm close."

Spain suffered a losing start to its World Cup campaign after going down to a shock 1-0 loss to Switzerland, but it rallied after that and successive victories over Honduras and Chile saw it finish top of Group H.

That saw the European champion set up a last 16 showdown with Iberian rival Portugal, which will be played in Cape Town on Tuesday (Wednesday morning AEST).

Torres, who was substituted at the start of the second half against Chile having complained of a muscular problem at the break, said: "We're ready for whatever comes. We are where we wanted to be, living the opportunity that we dreamed of.

"We only need to look ahead, be optimistic, positive and show the people what we are capable of. We have confidence in ourselves.

"(However) anything can happen, so we will need to be more focused than ever.

"We've all seen the level that this team have and we know that we haven't reached that yet."

However, Carlos Queiroz is likely to be without winger Danny after he suffered bruising to his leg in the final group clash with Brazil.

Playmaker Deco is likely, therefore, to step straight into the XI in place of his injured teammate for the Iberian derby in Cape Town on Tuesday (Wednesday morning AEST).

The Portuguese Football Federation confirmed Danny needs treatment on the impact injury suffered in the goalless draw with Brazil, but Chelsea midfielder Deco trained Sunday after a two-game absence.

The Portuguese Football Federation said Venezuela-born Danny has bruising on his left leg and would have treatment.

Deco meanwhile trained as normal after missing the draw with his native Brazil which sent the Portuguese through to a last-16 match with Spain.

Portugal put Spain out of Euro 2004 but since then Spain has ended a four-decade trophy drought by winning Euro 2008 and has only lost two of its last 50 matches.

It beat Chile to win its group and coach Vicente Del Boqsue believes that the opening day loss to Switzerland has now been forgotten.

"This win gives us better security. The loss to the Swiss hit us and it was tough for us to rise above that. Had we won that one the group would have had a different complexion and been more comfortable for us," said the former Real Madrid boss, who took over from Euro 2008 winner Luis Aragones.

On the plus side is the form of goalscorer David Villa - on target three times already - but strike partner Fernando Torres is struggling for form on his return from ankle surgery.

"We have to look on the plus side. I think the team has been playing well enough - but we have been a bit lacking on the goals front, with the exception of Villa's exploits," said goalkeeper Iker Casillas.

The Portuguese take on European champion Spain on Wednesday morning (AEST) in Cape Town after finishing second in its group behind Brazil.

The goalless draw against the South Americans marked the 19th consecutive game Portugal has gone undefeated under Queiroz.

The former Real Madrid coach and Manchester United assistant has equalled the record set by his predecessor, Luiz Felipe Scolari, between 2005 and 2006.

"Statistics don't mean very much," said Queiroz.

"They might build up our confidence, but we cannot go to the round of 16 just with reputation and statistics. Our players have to prove their worth on the pitch."

Portugal has also kept a clean sheet in 22 of its last 26 matches.

"This shows that we are playing good defence," said Queiroz.

"But we have to keep our feet on the ground because now the knock-out round begins and any mistakes can send you home."

Portugal is no stranger to its Iberian rival, a side it eliminated in the knock-out round of Euro 2004 with a 1-0 victory.

The Spaniards won the European title, however, two years ago in Austria and travelled to South Africa as one of the favourites to win the World Cup.

"I have not analysed any other groups up to now," admitted Queiroz.

"I have just focused on my group, which was enough work.

"But now we will prepare to be at our best in our next match.

"The important thing is that we play how we know."

Brazil, who finished top of Group G after claiming seven points from a possible nine, take on Chile on Tuesday morning (AEST) in Johannesburg.

The Canarinha will be bolstered by the return of Kaka from suspension, while both Robinho and Elano are likely to come back from injury after missing the clash against Portugal.

"I think and hope that Elano will play in the next game," said Brazil coach Dunga.

"Robinho had a slight injury and that is why Nilmar played in his place against Portugal but he will return to play in our next match."

Despite avoiding defeat in the group stages, Dunga expects more from his players as the tournament progresses.

"I think Brazil has performed as expected so far," he said.

"We have obtained the results that we had to.

"But we have to evolve and try to improve as much as possible because the degree of difficulty tends to increase from now on."

Brazil did very little entertaining against Portugal with the two sides failing to provide the expected flowing football.

Dunga believes the five-time world champion will show more flair in its remaining games.

"Football is the people's joy," he said. "The World Cup is an event that congregates many countries.

"It is a sheer joy and whenever it is possible, we are going to ensure that Brazil is able to provide this joy."

After wins against Korea DPR and Cote d'Ivoire, the Canarinha were held to a goalless draw by Carlos Queiroz's side.

The result assured Brazil finished top of the pool, two points clear of the Portuguese.

"It was a difficult group," said Julio Cesar. "Portugal defended well and created some chances for themselves.

"We wanted to finish the group with a win but it was not to be.

"Nevertheless we can draw positives from our performance against Portugal.

"We dominated possession and we always surged forward hoping to score goals."

Brazil will now face Chile and Julio Cesar believes it will be a difficult test.

"Now a new and more complicated stage in the competition begins and I am certain that Brazil will be ready," he said.

"We have done what we expected to do so far and now we have to focus one game at a time and continue to improve game by game."

Julio Cesar has reason to be upbeat as his side will also welcome back midfield pair Kaka and Elano for Tuesday's (AEST) last-16 encounter in Johannesburg.

Kaka served a one-match ban against Portugal while Elano was ruled out through injury.

"They are both crucial players for us and it will be good to have them back in the team for our next game," said the Inter Milan player.

Portugal will now meet Spain but captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who earned the man-of-the-match award against Brazil, had no preference as to who his national side would have faced in the last 16.

"We are confident," he said. "It doesn't matter who we get in the next round as long as we play how we have done in this group stage."

Portugal were held to a goalless draw by Cote d'Ivoire before thrashing North Korea 7-0.

Saturday's result allowed Portugal to advance as the second in the group, one point clear of the Ivorians.

"We knew we were playing for our qualification," said Ronaldo. "We knew we would face a very strong Brazil but we played our game and we did well.

"We created opportunities and it was a good performance from us.

"Now we just have to think about recovering and focus on ourselves, not on the team we will face next."

Spain's 2-1 win over Chile in Pretoria saw it replace the South American side at the top of Group H but with both nations still going through.

The European champion's reward for its second successive win in South Africa was a showdown with Iberian neighbour Portugal in the knockout stages, with Chile meeting the Brazilians.

On paper it would appear that Spain has a slightly easier route, but that is not the way Del Bosque is looking at it.

When asked if he was concerned about facing Cristiano Ronaldo, Del Bosque said: "No, Portugal concern me.

"We've seen today how they controlled the game against Brazil, hitting them on the counter-attack.

"Portugal are going to be a very tough side. I take no satisfaction from the fact we're up against Portugal instead of Brazil. They are both great national teams."

Spain at least goes into the clash with Portugal battle-hardened by its experiences in the group stages.

The Spanish came into the FIFA World Cup rated by many as favourite to clinch the title, but those lofty expectations were tempered considerably when it lost its opening match to Switzerland.

Del Bosque's men have got themselves back on track with victories against Honduras and Chile, although it could have been a different story against Marcelo Bielsa's side.

Chile looked to be gaining the upper hand when it helped gift Spain the lead in the 24th minute.

Goalkeeper Claudio Bravo needlessly raced out of his goal and kicked his clearance straight at David Villa, who fired straight into an empty net from 40 metres.

Spain then doubled its lead just before the break through Andres Iniesta, while at the same time Chile was reduced to 10 men when midfielder Marco Estrada was shown a second yellow card for what looked an accidental trip on Fernando Torres.

It was harsh on Chile to find itself in such a position at the break, and although it pulled a goal back just after half-time, it rarely looked like getting another goal. Iniesta, who was named man of the match, admits Villa's goal was crucial.

"David's goal was very important for us. It came at a difficult time where we weren't finding it comfortable," he said.

Chile was left with mixed feelings following the loss, which ended their 100 percent record in this World Cup but still saw them get through to the next phase.

"We are through to the last 16 but we've been defeated so there is some ambivalence of course. We've moved into the next round but can't really celebrate after a defeat," said Bielsa, who felt Estrada's red card was the turning point of the game.

"The first 40 minutes were even, with both teams enjoying similar amounts of possession and goal chances.

"After that moment, it was a different match."

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque said Torres "has a small muscle worry, nothing to do with his previous injury".

He substituted the striker in the 55th minute as Spain held off Chile in the second half to win 2-1.

Torres started for only the second time since undergoing surgery on his right knee in April, and Del Bosque expects him to be fit for Tuesday's (Wednesday morning AEST) game.

Alonso came off in the 73rd minute for Javi Martinez after taking a hard knock to his ankle just before half-time.

Two sides normally associated with breathtaking, end-to-end football disappointed as the South Americans clinched first place in the group and Portugal claimed the point it needed to advance to the last 16.

Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz insisted, however, the contest contained plenty of excitement.

"I think it was a great show, a football feast," he said. "Brazil played very strong in the first few minutes but after their initial period of domination, Portugal slowly started to control the game.

"In the end, it was a game where we attacked and they defended.

"Today is a day to celebrate because Portugal has qualified with a great degree of merit.

"It was a great game of football, the players played extremely well and they must be congratulated.

"I think the draw was a fair result."

Queiroz, whose side finished one point clear of Cote d'Ivoire, insisted Portugal could take positives from the performance.

"We did not concede a goal and from our last 26 games, we have now kept a clean sheet in our last 22," he said.

"Today, my players were ready to sacrifice themselves, to fight in order to get a result.

"When you play against a Brazil side that has beautiful and great players, you have to give everything.

"When it was necessary to defend, we defended and when we needed to attack we attacked.

"I think my team as a whole merited the man-of-the-match award."

Brazil coach Dunga conceded the South Americans had not produced their best form.

The match in Durban failed to live up to expectations and Dunga was left disappointed with the outcome.

"No, we are not happy," he said. "Brazil always plays to win and we tried to attack until the end.

"Portugal didn't want to attack, they wanted to defend.

"My team is always ready to go forward and that was the case today."

Dunga admitted his side was frustrated by Portugal's defensive tactics.

"The Portuguese team defended from midfield backwards," he said. "It made it difficult to penetrate their defence.

"We nevertheless had three or four goalscoring opportunities."

Both Nilmar and substitute Ramires forced Portugal goalkeeper Eduardo into making great saves as the Portuguese held on for a point.

Dunga believes the absence of suspended Kaka and injured Elano in midfield did not hinder his side.

"Kaka and Elano are exceptional players," said Dunga. "But the way in which Portugal played, it would have made it difficult for Kaka and Elano to help us more today."

Brazil clinched top spot while Portugal got the point it needed to finish second in the standings to also progress to the last 16 ahead of Cote d'Ivoire, which defeated Korea DPR.

The Brazilians will play the runner-up of Group H in its next game while Portugal will take on the winner from that pool.

Much was expected from the match at a packed Moses Mabhida stadium with both sides possessing plenty of flair and despite an electric atmosphere with the Brazilian fans far outnumbering the Portuguese supporters, there was little action on the pitch.

Brazil had the best chance to claim its third win in as many games on the half-hour mark but Portugal goalkeeper Eduardo made an outstanding save to deny Nilmar from close range.

Portugal should have gone in front before the hour mark, but Raul Meireles struck just wide from five yards after a great run from Cristiano Ronaldo.

A game expected to be full of attacking football instead had seven yellow cards handed out in a first half controlled by Brazil.

Portugal came to life after the re-start but failed to test Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar.

Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz made four changes to the side that thrashed North Korea 7-0, while the Brazilians were without suspended Kaka and injured Elano in midfield.

As expected, Julio Baptista replaced Kaka while coach Dunga surprisingly left Robinho out of the starting XI and opted to play Nilmar alongside Luis Fabiano up front.

Brazil earned two corners in the opening minutes and had the first chance in the fifth minute.

Dani Alves' right-footed strike from 25 yards went wide of the near post.

Brazil tried to loosen up the Portuguese defence but it did not seem to have any sense of urgency to test Eduardo.

In the 14th minute, Julio Cesar did well to punch away Fabio Coentrao's dangerous cross towards the box.

Shortly after, Alves tried his luck from the distance and his central effort was saved by the Portugal goalkeeper.

At the other end, Tiago's volley from the edge of the area went over the bar.

Midway through the first half, Juan was shown a yellow card after a hand ball to stop a Portuguese counter-attack.

Brazil almost went in front soon after.

Luis Fabiano fed Nilmar at the far post and his five-yard shot was deflected by Eduardo's palm to the near post.

At the other end, Tiago was booked for diving.

In the 38th minute, Luis Fabiano latched on to Maicon's cross from the right and his header went just wide of the near post.

Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar had one save to make in the opening half with Ronaldo's 40th-minute strike not causing the Inter Milan man any problems.

Portugal came to life in the second half and Lucio was forced to make a crucial clearance from Ronaldo's cross with Danny waiting inside the area.

Before the hour mark, Meireles struck just wide from five yards after a great run from Ronaldo.

In the 73rd minute, Alves' 30-yard strike went wide while three minutes from time Lucio's header was saved by Eduardo.

Substitute Ramires almost earned Brazil victory but his right-footed strike was denied by an acrobatic save from Eduardo in stoppage-time.

Dunga verbally insulted a Brazilian reporter after his team's 3-1 triumph over the Ivory Coast.

The former Brazil star used the words "donkey" and "wimp" as well as launching a verbal attack on the journalist in question in his post-match press conference.

"I'm sorry to the fans for the language I used and for the manner in which I spoke after that game," said Dunga.

"The fans have always supported the national team and all I want to do is to be able to work for the good of this team."

Dunga, whose side have claimed maximum points from its opening two matches to already seal a place in the last 16, has an added reason to succeed in South Africa and not just because he is in charge of the five-time world champions.

"My father has been ill for some time," said Dunga.

"This is another opportunity for me to show my dad all the virtues that he conveyed to me.

"The fact that I have to be strong, transparent, dignified and that I have to apologise when I err.

"My mother has given me the best example in life, never to give up, to do my best and to be a decent person."

Nothing comes easy in this World Cup and proof of that is that tournament hosts South Africa, reigning champions Italy and 2006 finalists France were knocked out in the first round of the competition.

"We know that football is always something of a Pandora's box," he said.

"All the teams that are here are very good sides.

"We are talking about globalised football and we have to be prepared for unexpected surprises."

The past, according to Dunga, makes no difference in this day and age.

"We have to start evolving and forget about the traditional teams," he said. "Those days are over.

"If the traditional teams don't play well, they will be eliminated.

"We, the so called traditional teams, have to be aware of that."

Portugal, meanwhile, who lie second in Group G, have the utmost respect for the Canarinha.

"We play against the highest-ranked team in the world," said Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz.

"They have tremendous organisation.

"They are a very solid team, full of outstanding players.

"I think it's going to be a very difficult game.

"But then again, any victory against Brazil is always an excellent result for any team.

"But even a draw for that matter."

Portugal need just a point to join Brazil in the next round although a defeat is likely to see them through as they have a big goal difference advantage with respect to the Ivory Coast, who have one point from their two games.

Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz says the midfielder will remain on the bench to keep him for the team's anticipated round-of-16 match.

Portugal needs a draw against Brazil in Durban to guarantee progress out of Group G.

Brazil is already sure to reach the second round after winning its first two matches in South Africa

Queiroz said Deco is "injured still".

He added that Benfica midfielder Ruben Amorim also is injured and unavailable for the match at Moses Mabhida Stadium.

"I can't consider the bookings that have been made, but only the technical aspects of my team and those of the Brazilians," Queiroz said.

"Portugal's priority is to qualify - that's the main thing ... We'll play to win, but we at least want to get a point."

Queiroz warned Brazil could "tear us apart" if his team's defensive game slips.

Brazil has already qualified for the round of 16 with two wins, while Portugal has four points and can only miss out on the next stage if it loses and Cote d'Ivoire thrashes North Korea.

Queiroz was highly critical of Ronaldo's booking during Portugal's opening 0-0 draw against The Elephants. He argued that refereeing errors are hurting the quality of games at the World Cup.

"About Cristiano's yellow card - what can I say? He was fouled and was shown a yellow card," Queiroz said. "The referees must be more effective. There should be conditions so that mistakes are corrected - that will ensure that players play the beautiful game."

Another problem is the pitch.

"If the pitch is not up to scratch that's bad for both teams, because Portugal plays with smooth passes," Queiroz said. "But you can't cry about problems ... Players have to make up for this."

Brazil's main vulnerability, he said, would be the absence of Kaka, who will be serving out a suspension after he was sent off in late in Brazil's 3-1 win over Cote d'Ivoire on Sunday.

"Kaka is part of the golden trio along with Robinho and Luis Fabiano," Queiroz said. "So what's important is who replaces him."

Brazil coach Dunga joined Queiroz in blasting referee errors, and complained about the two yellow cards shown to Kaka.

"The first yellow that Kaka got came after he had been fouled. And in the second situation, a player went up to Kaka. Kaka did not provoke him," Dunga said.

"In no way did Kaka lose his cool at any time, even though the Brazilians were repeatedly fouled."

The Canarinha, winners in its opening two games, is in first place and two points clear of second-top Portugal.

Brazil has had so much success over the years, draws are never good enough for its fans and it certainly does not accept defeats.

"Brazil has to win, otherwise I am going to have tremendous problems," said Dunga.

"We have no other option, we play to win, we must play to win.

"The important thing is we play the best we can."

Dunga has reminded his players he will not tolerate indiscipline from now on.

Brazil will be without star player Kaka for the match as he serves a one-match ban after being sent off for a double booking against Cote d'Ivoire.

"Since the qualifying matches, we have to start our games with 11 players and finish them with 11 players," he said.

"Having said that I would like to reiterate Kaka did not show any kind of nervousness against the Ivory Coast.

"I think he played a balanced game and he got his first yellow card after being fouled and then he got a second card even though Kaka did not provoke his rival."

Dunga believes Kaka's absence will not hinder his side.

"We all know Kaka is a unique player," he said.

"But Julio Baptista has already played in the Copa America with us and he adapts well to going forward.

"Baptista is very powerful and is a good shooter from outside.

"But we have to play as a collective."

One player who is likely to sit out the encounter against Portugal is Galatasaray midfielder Elano, who sustained a calf injury in Brazil's second victory shortly after scoring.

"He might now play tomorrow," said Dunga. "But we will wait and see what happens."

Portugal heads into the match in buoyant mood after thrashing Korea DPR 7-0 in its last game.

Dunga expects the Portuguese to show the same attacking flair as it did against the Asian side.

"Portugal is going to have to attack in order to secure points," he said.

"I believe Portugal are going to play as they have played up to now."

One player that stands out in the Portuguese side is Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo.

"We are not going to mark a specific player," said Dunga. "We are going to mark all of the Portuguese players."

The last time both sides met back in 2008, Brazil humiliated Portugal 6-2 in a friendly in Brasilia.

"The past is the past," said Dunga. "This is a new game and I think it's going to be a great encounter for all football lovers.

"It's going to be an interesting game as Brazil versus Portugal always is.

"Our style of football is similar.

"With both sides, when they have possession, they go out to score."

Dunga is nevertheless confident his side will come out triumphant as long as it plays like only Brazil knows how.

"Whenever we play organised and attacking football, we always do well," he said. "I think we have a balanced team and that is the aim of any side, to play balanced football."

The Portuguese need only a point from the game in Durban to be assured of joining Brazil in the last 16 of the World Cup.

"We play against the highest-ranked team in the world," said Queiroz.

"They have tremendous organisation. They are a very solid team, full of outstanding players.

"I think it's going to be a very difficult game for both sides."

Queiroz's side could lose and still go through as its 7-0 triumph over Korea DPR ensured its goal difference is far superior to Cote d'Ivoire - the only side that can end its World Cup adventure.

However, Queiroz insists his players will go out for the win, determined to top the group.

"Brazil has already qualified and we, on the other hand, still have to progress," he said.

"We are going to try to change the rhythm of Brazil.

"We are not going to play for a draw but we are going out to win."

Despite the absence of star player Kaka through suspension, Queiroz believes Dunga's side is still a team to be feared.

"It has always been Robinho, Luis Fabiano and Kaka," he said.

"What is important to know is who will replace Kaka to conform the golden trio tomorrow."

A triumph over Brazil would be a major boost in confidence for La Seleccao.

"Any victory against Brazil is always an excellent result for any team," said Queiroz. "But even a draw for that matter.

"We just have to use all of our skills and technique."

Queiroz says his team will not go out to avenge a 6-2 defeat it suffered at the hands of Brazil the last time the two nations went head to head, in a friendly in Brasilia back in 2008.

"We have nothing to avenge," he said. "The past doesn't count because this is a World Cup.

"We cannot live in the past.

"We've played many games during this time.

"When we last met them, we had only had opportunity to train for 10 days as a group. We have played 25 games since then and we are unbeaten in 17 matches and have not conceded a goal in 21 games."

Queiroz believes his team's mauling of North Korea has not made his team over-confident.

"When you are able to win 7-0, it's great cause for celebration because it's uncommon today for that to happen," he said.

"But Brazil is not North Korea.

"We just hope to be able to play good football, spectacular football because that is what the World Cup is all about."

Despite being a booking away from missing the knock-out round should his team qualify, Queiroz will not save star player Cristiano Ronaldo.

"Portugal are playing with a view to qualify," said Queiroz.

"Ronaldo has to play his normal football and play just as he did in the game where he picked up a yellow card."

Queiroz will be without injured Deco, with the Brazil-born midfielder still struggling with a hip injury.

"All of my players are available with the exception of those two," he said. "We hope and believe that Deco will be able to recover in time for the knock-out round."

Regardless of the result, Queiroz believes the fans at the Moses Mabhida stadium can expect to be treated.

"Even our friendly games against them, it has always been great entertainment," he said.

"But anything can happen.

"We will try to erase the prestige of Brazil and honour our country."

The Chelsea midfielder, born in the state of Sao Paulo but a naturalised Portuguese, missed the 7-0 win over North Korea on Monday with a hip problem.

He has not given up hope of being ready to take on the land of his birth in its final Group G match on Saturday morning (AEST) but remains non-committal about his fitness.

Asked about his hip, Deco said: "It's so-so. I'll try to be better for the game but we'll see. "I'm still having treatment and I hope to be available."

He added: "I have nothing to prove against Brazil, I just want to play and help my team. What is important now is qualifying for the next phase.

"We want to play well against them, we had a good game against North Korea, controlled and game and scored seven goals. We're enjoying it now, the win was important."

Deco's chances of playing Brazil seem slim regardless of his injury, with replacement Tiago stepping in and performing superbly in an excellent team performance.

Whether or not he plays, Deco acknowledges Portugal will need to be at the top of its game once more.

"Brazil is a different game, we know they are one of the favourites to win the World Cup and we'll try to do our best in the game," he said.

Tiago admits a 6-2 friendly defeat by Brazil in 2008 will be on its mind when the sides meet again.

"In the last game we lost to them in a big defeat and now we have chance to beat them," he said.

"It's not revenge, we are two great teams in the World Cup. Both teams want to go through and want to win the game, so it is not revenge, it is just a game."

Carlos Queiroz's side clicked into gear emphatically this week by heavily defeating North Korea after drawing 0-0 with the Côte d'Ivoire in its opening Group G game.

For North Korea, who was valiant in a 2-1 opening defeat by Brazil, the scoreline was a real blow to its pride.

After playing Côte d'Ivoire in its final match, Kim Jong-hun's side must return home to face the music with all kinds of speculation surrounding the welcome it will get from communist dictator Kim Jong-il.

Tiago scored two goals in the match, including the seventh, but told Press Association Sport: "I'm not sorry, it's football.

"We want to win, we want to score but we wish them luck. I think it's always difficult to lose 7-0 but hopefully in the next game they will be strong."

Reminded that for North Korea it is perhaps not 'just' football, Tiago added: "Yes, I know. I didn't feel guilty because you want to play and you want to score.

"I think for them it's difficult, I hope in their third game (against Ivory Coast) they can score and win."

Monday's win saw Cristiano Ronaldo break a two-year spell without a competitive goal and defender Ricardo Carvalho believes the whole team will benefit from that.

"Of course we're pleased for him, it's important for him," said the Chelsea defender.

"He'd been a little bit disappointed because he wants to score in every game.

"It is also a goal for his confidence. He makes a difference: he can score on a counter-attack; he can score free-kicks; create from corner kicks.

"So he's a top player, it was so important for him to score and for us as well, because the more confidence he gets is better for us."

Carlos Queiroz's side made the drab goalless draw with Cote d'Ivoire in its opening FIFA World Cup Group G match a distant memory with a display of ruthlessness and verve to dismantle its spirited rival in Cape Town.

Ronaldo improved following a poor first half - from which his side held only a one-goal lead - and was a key figure in a stunning second 45 minutes featuring six goals.

Only one of those goals was his and it was a fortuitous one at that, but Ronaldo - who last scored a competitive goal at Euro 2008 - was not too concerned.

"I knew the goal would come eventually," he said. "It's normal (to have these spells), I didn't feel under pressure about it.

"I smiled when I scored because it was a funny goal, the way it hit me on the neck."

Ronaldo was happy to share the plaudits after the game and disagreed with the official decision to hand him the man of the match award.

"I gave the man of the match prize to Tiago because he played better and it was only fair to give the trophy to him," he revealed.

Raul Meireles scored in the first half before Simao Sabrosa, Hugo Almeida and Tiago hit one apiece within seven second-half minutes of each other. Liedson and Ronaldo got in on the act before Tiago grabbed his second in the dying minutes.

Although mathematically it has yet to seal its last-16 place, Portugal's performance was so impressive it can now turn its attention to beating Brazil and trying to top the group.

Its hopes of achieving that are boosted by the absence of key Brazilian Kaka, who was harshly dismissed against Cote d'Ivoire for tangling with Kader Keita.

Ronaldo said of his Real Madrid colleague: "It's not fair because Kaka did nothing in my opinion, and now he won't play against us.

"He didn't deserve that red card.

"I saw the game and I spoke with him about it afterwards. He was angry at the time but after the game he's cool, he understands it's part of the game."

Queiroz, meanwhile, wished North Korea well having inflicted such a battering on it.

"I hope North Korea will at least win one a point at the World Cup, given their attitude and performance," he said.

North Korea coach Kim Jong-hun immediately deflected blame from his players following the match and believes they can still count on public support.

"Back home I believe they will be looking ahead to the next game," he said. "We have one left and they will be rooting for us to play well in that.

"We cannot now achieve our objective, to progress, but we will reinforce our mental state and really work hard."

He added: "Against the Ivory Coast we'll have to rethink our strategy and tactics. Portugal have very strong individual players and a fast passing style. We did prepare for that, but it was not sufficient."

Queiroz's men produced a performance of fluidity and flair to earn a first win of the tournament in style.

After labouring in its opening Group G stalemate with tCote d'Ivoire, Portugal was under pressure to deliver against North Korea with a showdown against Brazil still to come.

It now heads into that clash full of confidence after six goals in the second half made a serious statement to itsrivals.

"It's a feeling of great satisfaction for our players in the way they played, the attitude and perseverance with beautiful football and beautiful goals," Queiroz said.

"I'd like to register my respect for the North Korea team. They leave with their heads held very high but sometimes we have to face these results.

"It is a great day for Portugal and Portuguese football, to score seven goals.

"We have to be more ambitious for the next phase."

Raul Meireles scored in the first half before Simao Sabrosa, Hugo Almeida and Tiago hit one apiece within seven second-half minutes. Liedson and Cristiano Ronaldo got in on the act before Tiago grabbed his second in the dying minutes.

Portugal came in to the match hoping to boost its goal difference with Cote d'Ivoire still to play a North Korea side that was excellent in its 2-1 defeat by Dunga's Brazil in the first game.

North Korea coach Kim Jong-hun was quick to shoulder the blame.

"Tactically speaking we fell apart and we didn't block their attacks," he said.

"As a coach it was my fault for not playing the right strategy and that is why we conceded a lot of goals.

"Portugal became more aggressive as the game continued and it was our desire and wish to equalise that led to the collapse.

"The attack and defence was not balanced well."

Having failed to impress in its opening Group G stalemate with Cote d'Ivoire, Carlos Queiroz's side was under pressure to deliver against North Korea with a showdown against Brazil still to come.

And it did that emphatically as Raul Meireles scored in the first half before Simao Sabrosa, Hugo Almeida and Tiago hit one apiece within seven second-half minutes.

Liedson and Cristiano Ronaldo got in on the act before Tiago grabbed his second in the dying minutes.

Portugal came into the match hoping to boost its goal difference with Cote d'Ivoire, its main rival to join Brazil in the next round, still to play a North Korean side which was excellent in its 2-1 defeat by Dunga's side in the first game.

Queiroz made four changes, one of which was enforced due to Deco's hip injury and Tiago coming in. North Korea was unchanged.

Portugal captain Ronaldo, without a competitive goal for his country in two years, had an early effort blocked.

His side came close to a breakthrough in the seventh minute when Ricardo Carvalho was allowed to reach Simao's corner but saw his header hit the post and bounce away.

Cha Jong-hyok and Jong Tae-se had half chances for North Korea and a better opportunity then went begging after 17 minutes as Hong Yong-jo cut inside and when Eduardo parried his shot, Pak Nam-chol headed over.

In the 29th minute the impressive Meireles opened the scoring. Breaking into the box, he was found by Tiago's clever ball and expertly drove the ball beyond Ri Myong-guk.

Tiago had an early chance in the second half as his effort from distance was tipped over by the goalkeeper.

Ronaldo blasted one over in a lively opening to the half, then saw Ri Myong-guk spill a left-footed effort soon after.

Jong's deflected drive from a free-kick was saved by Eduardo and at the other end Almeida failed to finish off a nice move down the left when he could not convert Fabio Coentrao's cross.

However, it was 2-0 in the 53rd minute.

Almeida held up a long ball for Meireles and when the midfielder saw Simao bursting into the box to his right, the pass perfectly set up his team-mate for a straightforward finish.

North Korea was deflated and it was soon over as a contest. In the 56th minute Coentrao was put clear down the left and his perfectly-pitched cross found Almeida, who made no mistake with the header.

North Korea coach Kim Jong-hun sent on two substitutes in response but it was to no avail as Tiago added to the deficit, rushing forward to sweep home Ronaldo's cut-back from the left on the hour mark.

Meireles and Coentrao had further chances while in the 70th minute a fizzing Ronaldo shot hit the bar.

Ronaldo kept plugging away as he looked to break his two-year barren spell before Liedson made it 5-0 four minutes after coming off the bench.

Fellow replacement Duda whipped in a ball which Ri Kwang-chon failed to clear, allowing Brazil-born Liedson to hammer home on the turn.

Ronaldo finally got his goal when Liedson capitalised on a defensive mix-up to put him through before he rounded the goalkeeper and slotted home and Tiago headed home his second to complete the rout in the 89th minute.

The world's most expensive player has long been accused of failing to perform for his country as well as he does for his club.

That has intensified recently with the prolific Real Madrid forward enduring a barren spell for Portugal, which continued in last week's goalless draw with Cote d'Ivoire in its FIFA World Cup opener.

Carlos Queiroz's side takes on Korea DPR in Cape Town next in its second Group G clash desperate to secure victory but Ronaldo - whose last competitive goal was at Euro 2008 - has attempted to play down the pressure he is under.

"I haven't scored in two years for Portugal," he said. "I hope to score tomorrow.

"I'm not concerned with that aspect, the goals will come, today, tomorrow or in a few years' time. I have faith in my coach and my team-mates and if I don't score, it's not the end of the world.

"I've always scored goals and they will come at the right time."

The former Manchester United star added: "I'm not frustrated.

"I feel very good, I'm happy. The atmosphere in the squad is brilliant, to be honest. Maybe I'll score tomorrow, I don't know."

Ronaldo will take on North Korea without fellow creative talisman Deco, who has been ruled out with a left hip problem which should be cured by the time Portugal faces Brazil.

"Obviously Deco is always an important piece in the chess game," Ronaldo admitted.

Queiroz has no other injury concerns ahead of the match and is likely to call upon Tiago or Simao Sabrosa to take Deco's place.

"Our medical team this morning assessed Deco's situation, he didn't train with us and he will not be able to play for us tomorrow, but we want to prepare him to play against Brazil," said the coach.

The Mozambique-born boss has called on referees to 'protect' the likes of Ronaldo, after his star man was booked against Cote d'Ivoire despite seemingly being the victim of a foul rather than the culprit.

Asked about perceived rough treatment of some players, he said: "It's normal that this happens at club and national team level, that our most creative players are sometimes fouled more frequently.

"I hope that the number of fouls in this particular case is limited and this obviously depends on the referee.

"This referee (Chile's Pablo Pozo) should obviously protect the best attacking players."

Queiroz was under no illusion about the importance of the match at Green Point Stadium.

"It's an important game, it's all or nothing as far as we're concerned and the players are aware of this.

"There is only one result we're interested in and that is to win."

North Korea was expected to be the whipping boys of Group G, thought to be one of the tougher pools in the World Cup, but it did not turn out that way in its first game as it fought hard in a 2-1 defeat by Brazil.

After Portugal drew with Cote d'Ivoire in its maiden outing, goal difference could yet come into play, but Meireles believes that is a secondary concern.

The 27-year-old said on www.fpf.pt: "Goals at this point may be important, but our first priority is to win.

"It is our primary objective and we'll work for it, but if we can score more goals, it will be good "

Meireles expects North Korea to park the bus on Monday (Monday evening AEST), but believes Portugal has the weapons to breach its defences.

He said: "We know the importance the game has for us.

"North Korea will play the same way (as against Brazil). We've been watching a bit of the game, we know that they're very strong defensively, with 10 players behind the ball.

"We are prepared, we will work to overcome this wall and win."

Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz is known for his cool rationality and football theorising, qualities that have earned him the moniker The Professor.

After Portugal's cautious 0-0 draw against Cote d'Ivoire in its Group G opener, Queiroz is under pressure to show against Korea DPR on Monday (Monday evening AEST) that he also has fire in his belly.

That means more daring tactics going forward.

"In an opening game, you take fewer risks. You don't throw everything into attack," Queiroz said Friday. "The second game will be much more straightforward: we have to make things happen ... we have to win to give ourselves a chance of progressing."

Striker Liedson said the squad understands that message.

"We've been working hard on our scoring this week. We have to start putting the ball in the net," Liedson said Friday after a training session that went longer than usual, at about two hours. "Queiroz has been focusing on that."

Liedson was playing at centre forward when Portugal forced Cote d'Ivoire's goalkeeper to make only one save over in the match.

Queiroz has his full squad available for Portugal's assault on a North Korean back line that defended so stoutly against Brazil that it took the five-time World Cup champions almost an hour to break the deadlock before winning 2-1.

The game in Cape Town could prove decisive for Portugal's ambitions in South Africa. It could also provide a tonic for an unsettled team that is ranked third in world but hasn't demonstrated the kind of polished football associated with that rating.

For Queiroz, a tall 57-year-old with greying hair who left the assistant manager's job at Manchester United to take the helm at Portugal, a strong showing would help silence the doubters.

His two-year tenure has brought questions about his calibre and suitability for the job.

Portugal's qualification for South Africa was a bumpy ride. Three 0-0 draws, including one at home against 10-man Albania, dropped the team to fifth in the group before it recovered to qualify through the playoffs. Queiroz also oversaw a 6-2 thrashing by Brazil in a friendly.

The constant gripe of fans and commentators has been that Portugal under Queiroz is too prudent, too wary going forward, and too ponderous.

"Please think big ... Take risks! Do whatever it takes to win," Portuguese daily paper Diario de Noticias urged Queiroz in an editorial after the Cote d'Ivoire draw. "If we have to go out of the World Cup early, at least let us leave with a clear conscience, having pushed ourselves to the limit."

Midfielder Deco, a seven-year veteran of the Portugal team, also grumbled about Queiroz's approach to that game, telling reporters the tactics and substitutions were "strange" and "not as good as they might have been".

Queiroz has been unfavourably compared to previous coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, a fiery and effusive Brazilian. Scolari was Portugal's most successful coach, leading Portugal to the 2004 European Championship final and the semifinals of the 2006 World Cup.

Other dissenting voices noted that while Queiroz - a graduate from one of Lisbon's top physical education institutes where he also taught classes - has had successes with youth teams and as an assistant coach, he has come up short when handed the top job.

He is a former coach of Real Madrid and Sporting Lisbon but failed to win major trophies at either club.

Queiroz made his name developing youth teams in Portugal before being promoted to national coach in 1991.

He nurtured Portugal's so-called Golden Generation, which included former FIFA world player of the year Luis Figo, leading the country's under-20 team to consecutive world youth championship triumphs in 1989 and 1991.

His almost three-decade coaching career has also included stints at teams in the United States, Japan and United Arab Emirates.

Deco was vocal in his criticism of Queiroz's tactics following the goalless draw with Cote d'Ivoire in Portugal's World Cup opener.

However, the former Manchester United assistant has played down the matter and claims it is all in the past as Portugal prepares to continue its bid to progress to the knockout stages.

"The most important thing was to ensure that, after Deco's comments, serenity was maintained, that confidence was absolute," said Queiroz.

"People know we are here to work with a single objective which is to serve the national team and do the best for this team.

"Sometimes mistakes happen. There is no problem in the atmosphere of the team. It is something that is buried and completely in the past.

"I've made mistakes, even on television, after a qualifying match for the World Cup. We all sometimes commit verbal excesses, either for emotional reasons, or for reasons of context.

"It is necessary to trust and believe in people. The player himself expressed what he felt, he told everyone what he thought.

"We have to trust what he said, as I trust him, as he trusts me, as players trust Deco and as they all trust each other.

"The players work every day for a cause, which is to serve well the national team."

Portugal faces Korea DPR in Cape Town on Monday (Monday evening AEST) before taking on Brazil in its final Group G encounter.

Portugal, ranked No. 3 in the world, came to South Africa with hopes of capturing its first trophy, but a 0-0 draw in its opener against Ivory Coast was roundly booed at home.

Before Tuesday's second group match in Cape Town, the on-pitch shortcomings are being worsened by off-field grievances and public spats.

Deco was the centre of attention Thursday as the Portuguese scrambled to regroup. The midfielder had grumbled to reporters after the Ivory Coast game about coach Carlos Queiroz's tactics and substitutions, saying they were "strange" and "not as good as they might have been."

The criticism by Deco - a two-time Champions League winner, with Barcelona and FC Porto, Europe's 2004 player of the year and a linchpin for Portugal since his 2003 debut - carried weight, even while reportedly rankling Queiroz.

It also resonated with commentators and fans who watched a Portugal team, which for long periods looked disjointed and disoriented, lacked daring and was unable to develop forward momentum.

With team unity apparently fraying, Deco said in a statement posted on the Portuguese Football Federation's website the following day that he expressed his opinions "in the heat of the moment" and had not intended to question Queiroz's leadership.

He asked to appear at Thursday's news conference to repeat his denial of friction with Queiroz.

"It wasn't the right thing to say," he said, adding that he had apologised to his teammates. "I never expected it to cause such a furor."

In the first 15 minutes of the daily training session Queiroz, with more than a dozen TV cameras trained on him, gathered his players in a semicircle for a team chat which was out of earshot.

The Deco spat was the latest controversy to distract Portugal.

Last week, Nani was ruled out of the World Cup before it started because of a bruised left collarbone. Returning home, the Manchester United winger appeared to chafe at being cut, telling reporters in Lisbon that he would be fit within a week.

Central defender Ricardo Carvalho was the first to unintentionally rock the boat, before the squad even arrived at its base camp in the bushveldt north of Johannesburg. He told reporters that Portugal's 2006 World Cup squad was the strongest he'd played in - a comment taken to mean that his teammates in South Africa weren't as good.

Officials have also been disgruntled.

The Portuguese complained they were not consulted about an arm cast worn by Ivory Coast's Didier Drogba in Port Elizabeth. Queiroz said FIFA had shown double standards by disallowing jewelry on the pitch, but authorising a rigid arm protection for "a star of African football."

And the Portuguese Football Federation was irked by a yellow card shown to Cristiano Ronaldo in that match. It asked FIFA to revoke the booking, saying there was a "disparity" in the referee's criteria between the players of the two teams.

The East Asians produced a creditable performance in their first World Cup match in 44 years as they suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat to five-time winners Brazil on Wednesday.

A resilient defensive display was key to North Korea keeping Brazil down to two goals, and it may be capable of frustrating sides with less attacking flair.

It next faces a Portugal side looking to respond from an uninspiring goalless draw with Cote d'Ivoire in its Group G opener.

Jong, whose header set-up Ji Yun-nam to score the late consolation against Brazil, is eager to get off the mark against Portugal and help his side to a shock victory.

"I'm going to try to improve for the next game and score my first goal," the Kawasaki Frontale striker said on FIFA.com.

"Portugal are a top-class team, like Brazil, and it is going to be very hard but we're going to keep trying to make it."

Portugal drew 0-0 with Côte d'Ivoire in its opener, and North Korea lost to Brazil 2-1, making Monday evening's (AEST) game in Cape Town a crucial match.

As they get ready for that meeting, the players of both teams are drawing inspiration from their countries' deeds at the 1966 World Cup, which provided national sporting milestones, even though none of the current squads were born yet.

Both countries were making their debuts on football's biggest stage, and their standout performances in England that year have endured in national lore. North Korea upset Italy 1-0 at the tournament, becoming the first team from Asia to advance to the quarterfinals, and Portugal unexpectedly got as far as the semifinals.

But what has lingered longest in the memory is Portugal's 5-3 win over North Korea in the quarterfinals, regarded as one of the greatest comebacks in World Cup history.

By the 23rd minute of that match, North Korea - as much an unknown team then as it is in South Africa - was leading 3-0. Four goals in just over 30 minutes by Eusebio set the Portuguese on the path to a memorable triumph and guaranteed its place in football history.

North Korea midfielder An Yong Hak knew just what he wanted when asked about his hopes for the meeting with Portugal 44 years later.

"Revenge," he said. "We'll try to get revenge for 1966."

The slogan on the side of North Korea's team bus in South Africa, where the shut-off country has come once again into the world's view with its second World Cup appearance, is clear about the country's intentions: "1966 Again! Victory for DPR of Korea!" it says, using North Korea's official name - the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

On paper, the Cape Town game looks an uneven fight. Portugal boasts some of Europe's top talent, including the world's most expensive player in Cristiano Ronaldo. Ranked third in world, Portugal is playing at its fifth World Cup.

"In theory, we're better than them but we have to prove that on the pitch," Portugal midfielder Pedro Mendes said.

Ranked 105th, the lowest among teams competing in South Africa, North Korea nevertheless showed against Brazil that while it may not possess the stars or sophistication of more successful countries, it'll be no pushover.

It took Brazil almost an hour to breach the entrenched North Korean defence, and the five-time world champion had to be on its toes against counter-attacks led by forward Jong Tae Se.

The North Koreans certainly don't lack self-belief.

"I believe we will advance to the next round," said the Japan-based Jong, North Korea's biggest international football star since Pak Doo Ik, who scored the goal that sent Italy out in 1966.

Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz acknowledged that his team will have to work hard against the North Koreans.

"It's always difficult to play against a team that stacks its defence and waits for its opponent to make a mistake," Queiroz said. "We'll have to take more risks. We have one point so far and we need to win the second game."

Only three of the North Koreans play overseas, and the team has made few international appearances in recent years, giving opponents little chance to study its strengths and weaknesses.

Adding to Queiroz's worries, Portugal - which reached the semifinals in 2006 - has lacked consistency in recent times. That shortcoming proved costly in its World Cup qualifying campaign as it limped into the final tournament through the playoffs.

Another concern is Ronaldo's international goal drought. The Real Madrid forward hasn't found the net for his country in an official game since the 2008 European Championship.

The North Koreans are determined to prove their mettle. Like the 1966 team, Korea calls itself the "Chollima" squad in a cultural reference to a mythological winged horse symbolising the nation's iron resolve and military-style discipline.

"Like the football players of Chollima Korea in 1966, I will also display the might of North Korea's 'Army First' policy in the World Cup," goalkeeper Ri Myong Guk told APTN.

Portugal, meanwhile, wants to secure its place in the round of 16 before meeting Brazil on June 26 (AEST).

"It's wide open at the moment," Portugal midfield playmaker Deco said of the group. "We just have to win the second game."

The Portuguese Football Federation said on its website that it had asked FIFA to revoke the booking because "there were no grounds for the disciplinary sanction."

Ronaldo was shown the card after an altercation with Côte d'Ivoire defender Guy-Roland Demel, who tackled him on the edge of the penalty area in the 21st minute.

The Portuguese captain complained to referee Jorge Larrionda, who responded by showing both players a yellow card.

The federation said Ronaldo was "pushed and insulted" by opposition players but walked away. It claimed there was a "disparity" in the referee's criteria.

The striker played the final 24 minutes of Tuesday's (Wednesday morning AEST) 0-0 draw between the two sides in their Group G opener in Port Elizabeth just 10 days after fracturing his ulna in a warm-up game.

Cote d'Ivoire officials sought and were granted permission from FIFA for Drogba to play wearing the dressing, but while Portuguese coach Queiroz insisted there was no controversy over the issue, he admitted his surprise at the decision.

He said: "It's not for us to decide whether Drogba should play or not, it depends on FIFA.

"During the delegates' meeting which was held, the FIFA delegates decided the referee's decision was final. That was a bit odd as far as we were concerned.

"There are rules and regulations and for example, sometimes players can't play wearing a string bracelet, but a player can fracture his arm and play with a plaster cast and put at risk the Portugal players.

"I would like to know if the rules are the same for everybody.

"If you can't play with a simple string bracelet and somebody can play with a strapping as Drogba did, that's a little bit unsusual.

"Maybe the rules will be changed now, we don't know."

Drogba later revealed it was his decision to be included among the substitutes, and said he could be ready to start against Brazil in five days' time.

The Chelsea striker told Press Association Sport: "It was everybody's decision, but yes, my decision to play and say to the manager that if he needed me, I was going to be there.

"I could be ready. We have five days to prepare for this game, so I am there."

The 25-year-old, who has not scored for his country in 16 months, crashed a long-range effort against the post with 11 minutes gone shortly after being cautioned.

Ronaldo was confronted by Ivorian defender Guy Demel after Uruguayan referee Jorge Larrionda had waved away his claims for a foul as he surged forward, and both men were cautioned.

The Portugal skipper later said: "Sometimes it's difficult that the referee doesn't give fouls because he thinks I dived.

"I know the game is very quick and the players are very quick, but sometimes I don't understand the decisions of referees.

"I respect them, but sometimes I don't agree because they don't protect the dangerous players.

"In the first half, someone tackled me and I was given a yellow card. I didn't do anything, but he gave me a yellow card.

"Sometimes I don't understand, but that's football. I know I don't have to react if I get a yellow card.

"I don't want to speak about the referee. I respect the decision and I want to be focused on helping my team and to do my best."

In a game of few clear-cut chances, Cote d'Ivoire gave as good as they got, although without troubling Portugal keeper Eduardo unduly.

But there was little doubt that the African team and its manager, former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson, were the happier after a positive start to its World Cup adventure.

Asked to compare working with the two international teams, the Swede said: "The only difference now, I must say, is it's a smile all day.

"If we are travelling or we are doing whatever we are doing, it's an extremely happy football team.

"If the players have had any problems between them in the past, I can't understand it at all because they seem to be happy, all of them."

The Portuguese skipper, who has not scored an international goal in 16 months, rattled a post with a blistering early strike, but that was as close as his side came to snatching victory on a frustrating afternoon at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

Even Didier Drogba's arrival as a second-half substitute, to the delight of a crowd of 37,034, could not separate the sides as each attempted to gain the upper hand in Group G ahead of their respective encounters with Brazil.

Cote d'Ivoire boss Sven-Goran Eriksson was boosted ahead of kick-off when he was able to name captain Drogba among his substitutes just 10 days after he had broken a bone in his arm.

The Swede could not have failed to be satisfied too by the time he welcomed his players back to the dressing room at half-time with an opening 45 minutes in which they had more than matched their opponents.

However, for all that, they could have been behind after Ronaldo saw his spectacular 30-yard strike come back off the upright with keeper Boubacar Barry beaten just 11 minutes in.

But where he was Portugal's only real outlet with Danny and Liedson largely anonymous in a three-man frontline, Cote d'Ivoire showed real enterprise before the break.

Gervinho, leading the line in Drogba's absence, proved a real handful, and with Aruna Dindane and Salomon Kalou similarly progressive, Portugal was repeatedly stretched.

That said, keeper Eduardo did not have a single save of any note to make in the opening 45 minutes with speculative efforts from Siaka Tiene and Ismael Tiote requiring only a watching brief.

Eduardo finally had to get his hands dirty two minutes after the restart when Gervinho blasted a shot across him, and Paulo Ferreira did just enough to prevent Kalou from reaching Dindane's cross seconds later.

The Braga keeper was called upon once again with 54 minutes gone when Yaya Toure cut inside at pace and fed Kalou, although the Chelsea man side-footed straight at Eduardo from the edge of the box.

Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz immediately replaced Danny with winger Simao, but it was Deco who provided the 58th-minute cross for Liedson's looping header, which was plucked out of the air by Barry.

Drogba's World Cup began in earnest when he replaced Kalou with 66 minutes gone, but with heavy rain falling, it was Portugal which finished the stronger, although crucially, without coming close to making the breakthrough.

The Chelsea forward's participation had been in doubt after he suffered a fractured arm in a challenge during a friendly match against Japan in the build-up to the World Cup.

FIFA's head of media Nicolas Maingot said: "Regarding Didier Drogba, the referee of the match Jorge Larrionda has okayed the cast which Didier Drogba will use to play. The cast has been seen by the Portuguese delegation at yesterday's match co-ordination meeting."

Drogba was named on the bench for the Portugal game.

The 25-year-old Real Madrid star will lead his country into its opening FIFA World Cup Group G battle with Cote d'Ivoire in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday (AEST) with the weight of expectation on his shoulders.

Queiroz is confident Ronaldo can carry that burden but equally certain he will not have to do so alone.

He said: "He is good, he is looking forward to it - and I feel not only him, but all the players are wanting to play their best football yet.

"I am sure our 23 players, after the preparation we have undertaken, are all more than ready to begin playing.

"Cristiano Ronaldo is the captain of the team and a big icon nationally and internationally, and he is ready. They are all ready.

"It's time to play. The preparation time has come to an end and they now all really want to start playing, playing well and showing what they are capable of.

"We have 23 players who are desperate to do well for Portugal and I am sure all the players and not only Cristiano Ronaldo will be motivated by national pride."

Midfielder Deco admits he and his teammates are itching to get started.

He said: "The team has huge expectations and the first game is usually the most difficult because the anxiety levels are high.

"But we are ready. I am sure we have prepared ourselves very well and now we have to play and play well."

However, the 32-year-old Chelsea player knows Ivory Coast boss Sven-Goran Eriksson will have his side well organised as they too attempt to make a positive start to their campaign.

He said: "Eriksson has good experience and he is a fantastic coach. All teams need a good coach and Ivory Coast at the moment has a good coach.

"Of course we have discussed how they play and we know what they can do, and will be well prepared for the game."

Brazilian-born Deco announced earlier this year that he would retire from international football after the World Cup, and he is showing few signs of reconsidering that decision.

He said: "I have explained why I took that decision and I am not even thinking about that at the moment. I don't even want to talk about it.

"I have already said that once the World Cup is finished, I will not continue. But at the moment, that doesn't even cross my mind.

"What I am thinking about is playing tomorrow."

The Real Madrid forward failed to find the target during the entire FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign and has not registered for his country since a friendly win over Finland 16 months ago.

However, while team-mate Deco is confident the goals will start to flow once again for the former Manchester United star, he insists Ronaldo is not the only dangerman for the Africans in Wednesday morning's (AEST) Group G opener in Port Elizabeth.

The Chelsea man said: "Everyone talks about Cristiano Ronaldo - it's natural because he is the player he is.

"But we can only get anywhere if we are a team. It's the whole Portuguese team that matters.

"It's important that he scores goals, and those goals will help us to get through to the next phase and maybe win it.

"Whether Cristiano Ronaldo scores or not, there's really no concern as long as we score as a team."

Ronaldo, who has found the back of the net on a regular basis for his club this season, is not unduly concerned either, having predicted that the goals, like ketchup from a bottle, will arrive thick and fast once they start flowing.

Deco said: "I don't know what Cristiano really wanted to say with that. I need to ask him what he is going to do with that ketchup."

Speculation has been rife that there is an underlying issue as Nani travelled with the rest of the squad to South Africa and trained with them for two days after suffering the injury before being ruled out.

And the Manchester United winger has now added fuel to the fire by telling awaiting reporters at Lisbon airport: "I'll be fine in a week."

If Nani's claims are true, the 23-year-old would have only missed Portugal's opener against the Ivory Coast and would have recovered in time to face Brazil and Korea DPR.

The vice-president of the Portuguese federation insists there are no problems between Nani and the coaching staff.

Amandio de Carvalho said: "There is no attempting to hide anything, there was only the hope that he could have recovered."

Nani was looking to shine in the showpiece event after an impressive season for United.

He said: "I thought this was going to be my World Cup, I was training and playing well, but that's life.

"I worked a lot for this World Cup but I had the misfortune to injure myself before the start."

The two sides clash in a crucial Group G match at Port Elizabeth on Wednesday (AEST) just before pool rivals Brazil meet North Korea in Johannesburg.

"We know all about Drogba, he's a great player," said Ronaldo.

"But we can't get preoccupied by him. We must concentrate on our team, our tactics and our ambitions. That's the only way to win."

Portugal endured a troubled qualifying campaign, having to come through a two-legged playoff against Bosnia-Herzegovina to make sure of its place in the finals.

But Ronaldo insists those troubled times are behind it as the 2006 semi-finalist targets a place in the knockout round.

"The most important thing is to get to the second round and if it's as group winners, that would be better," said the 25-year-old Real Madrid star.

Yet the build-up to the mouthwatering meeting of some of the top stars from Europe and Africa at Port Elizabeth's Nelson Mandela Bay stadium has been clouded by injury.

Portugal, making its fifth appearance in the competition, was rocked last week by a collarbone injury to Nani which has ruled the Manchester United winger out of contention.

Cote d'Ivoire, first round casualties on its World Cup debut in 2006, had already been hit even harder with the broken arm suffered by superstar skipper Didier Drogba in a warm-up match against Japan.

The Chelsea striker underwent surgery and amazingly could still take part - he joined in a training session with his damaged arm in a sling last Friday.

Coach Sven-Goran Eriksson is hopeful his walking wounded warrior will make it.

"He is feeling better and better each day," said the former England and Mexico boss who took over the Elephants after January's Africa Cup of Nations.

Drogba, 32, is following an individual program with his right arm in a splint.

Swede Eriksson is planning to leave a decision about Drogba's participation until just before kick-off.

How crucial he is to the west Africans was evident as his team-mates missed a host of chances in a 1-1 draw in a warm-up against Swiss second division outfit Lausanne last Tuesday.

While Cote d'Ivoire, one of six African sides in this first ever World Cup on the continent, sailed through qualifying to top its group, Portugal only secured its ticket with a play-off win over Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Group G was burdened with the 'Group of Death' label with these two teams joined by five-time champion Brazil, with minnow Korea DPR making up the quartet.

Given the presence of Brazil, the result of the clash could well determine who progresses to the last 16 with European champion Spain the probable second round opponent for the second-placed finisher.

Portugal winger Simao is hoping to avoid Spain by topping the table.

"It will be difficult if Portugal face Spain in the last 16 because they are the European champions," the 30-year-old said.

He dismissed rumours that he did not get on with superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, saying he was good friends with the Read Madrid player.

"It's a lie and I don't understand it. You can ask Ronaldo and he will confirm that."

The Atletico Madrid player added: "Portugal have some of the best players in Europe with a lot of ambition and it's a very united and strong team," the Atletico Madrid player told reporters at Portugal's rural training base outside Johannesburg.

"It's always important to start the World Cup in the best way with a win. We don't want to face Brazil in the third game needing a win but if we need to win, why not? Because we have beaten them several times before."

The withdrawal of Manchester United's Nani from the squad due to injury last week made Simao the most likely starter on the Portugal left.

However, the 30-year-old had a draining season with Atletico Madrid in which he won the UEFA Europa League and reached the final of the Spanish Cup.

He insists fitness will not be a problem but admits Zenit St Petersburg star Danny has made a strong claim for inclusion in Thursday morning's (AEST) Group G clash in Port Elizabeth.

Simao said: "Despite the fact there was a lot debate on whether it would be me or Nani playing, right now there are 23 of us here and there is no guarantee that I will start as I don't own a place on the wing, we have many players who can play there.

"I've finally recovered. At the moment I am at 100% and it's been some time since the last game, which was the Spanish Cup final.

"We've been working well and I feel good physically and psychologically."

Portugal, a semi-finalist at the 2006 World Cup, is battling for qualification with Brazil and Cote d'Ivoire, with Korea DPR the dark horse in Group G, and Simao said his team was anxious to get its tournament under way.

"Portugal have some of the best players in Europe with a lot of ambition and it's a very united and strong team," the Atletico Madrid player told reporters at Portugal's rural training base outside Johannesburg.

"It's always important to start the World Cup in the best way with a win. We don't want to face Brazil in the third game needing a win but if we need to win, why not? Because we have beaten them several times before."

He said Portugal, which faces the Cote d'Ivoire in its first match on Tuesday, wanted to avoid Spain in the last 16, which would happen if Spain topped Group H and Portugal finished as runner-up in its group.

"It will be difficult if Portugal face Spain in the last 16 because they are the European champions," the 30-year-old said. Spain are hot favourites to top Group H.

And he sought to quash rumours that he did not get on with superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, saying he was good friends with the Read Madrid player.

"It's a lie and I don't understand it. You can ask Ronaldo and he will confirm that."

Portugal needed a play-off against Bosnia-Herzegovina to reach South Africa after a qualifying campaign in which midfielder-cum-striker Ronaldo failed to score in seven matches before being sidelined by injury.

Where to play the "golden boy" will occupy much of coach Carlos Queiroz's time with the options facing the former assistant to Alex Ferguson at Manchester United including using him in a wide or central midfield role or as a lone striker.

Portugal breezed through a 3-0 warm-up victory over Mozambique in midweek, but the match was overshadowed by the loss of Nani following an injury in training.

Simao admitted the Manchester United winger would be a loss but said: "Of course he is a good player but unfortunately he is injured. We are sad but we have a lot of good players that can also play in our position."

Simao said he was not certain to be in the starting eleven as there were many good players pushing for places.

"I'm very happy to be part of this 23. We are preparing for the World Cup in a good way and instead of thinking about our opponents we are thinking about ourselves.

"We hare working hard. I am fit, all the players are fit. I feel 100 per cent."

The Benfica midfielder joined the Seleccao in South Africa this week as a late replacement for Manchester United winger Nani, who was ruled out of the tournament after damaging his collarbone during training.

And Amorim is keen to prove his worth on the biggest stage of all.

"I am used to people not having great expectations on me," said Amorim. "This was the case at Benfica.

"But that doesn't worry me.

"I have already proved at Benfica that I can give a contribution.

"I did not come here to be Nani's replacement, but to cover a player who is out injured.

"My main aim here is to help the national team and showcase my talent."

Just a week ago, the 25-year-old Amorim was enjoying his holidays in the Algarve before getting a call from the Portuguese federation to join the team in South Africa.

"I got call from coach Carlos Queiroz and I went straight to the airport," he said.

"I have been well received by all my team-mates and I am very happy to be here.

Portugal kicks off its campaign against Cote d'Ivoire before further Group G games against Brazil and Korea DPR.