This was supposed to have been Cristiano Ronaldo’s tournament. His heroics against Sweden had taken Portugal to the finals.

United States 2 Portugal 2

Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic are not the world’s favourite footballers.

Portugal 1 Northern Ireland 1

Paris St Germain made an impressive start to their Champions League Group A campaign with a convincing victory over Dynamo Kiev at the Parc des Princes.

Andre Villas-Boas yesterday made Gylfi Sigurdsson his first signing as Tottenham head coach.

RUI COSTA led the so-called golden generation and Deco masterminded Luiz Felipe Scolari’s more combative side but now there is a big hole in the Portugal midfield.

Substitute Silvestre Varela kept alive Portugal’s hopes of qualifying from Group B with a late strike to spare the blushes of some of his more illustrious team-mates in Lviv.

Portugal 3 Denmark 2

“Six years ago we were the predators, now we are the prey,” said Portuguese paper Publico yesterday, of a match where the Danes can afford to wait to catch their opponents on the break, whereas Portugal have to score.

CRISTIANO RONALDO inspired Portugal to victory last night in Lisbon as his two goals help book their place in the Euro 2012 finals.

The Czech Republic joined Ireland in the Euro 2012 finals tonight after negotiating a potentially tricky night in Montenegro, Petr Jiracek's 81st-minute goal enough to give the Czechs a 1-0 win on the night and 3-0 on aggregate.

BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA failed to make the most of home advantage as they played out a terrible goalless draw with Portugal in the first leg of their Euro 2012 play-off in Zenica.

Bosnia-Herzegovina 0 Portugal 0

Pepe has been included in Portugal’s final 23-man World Cup squad despite having been out of action since December.

EVERTON manager David Moyes saw his side humbled in Lisbon for the second time this season and crash out of the Europa League in the process.

Sporting Lisbon 3 Everton 0 (Sporting win 4-2 on aggregate)

Everton 2 Sporting Lisbon 1

Everton 2 Sporting Lisbon 1

Diego Maradona's Argentina progressed to next summer's World Cup in South Africa as substitute Mario Bolatti hit a later winner to end Uruguay's hopes of snatching the final automatic qualification berth in the South American zone.

PORTUGAL booked themselves a place in the European play-offs for next year’s World Cup after an easy 4-0 Group One victory over Malta.

Portugal booked themselves a place in the European play-offs for next year’s World Cup with an easy 4-0 Group One victory over Malta.

Bolton manager Gary Megson has ruled out making a new bid for Sporting Lisbon midfielder Miguel Veloso.

Bolton are expected to make a formal bid for Reading striker Kevin Doyle before the end of the week.

Manchester City striker Felipe Caicedo has claimed West Ham are among the clubs keen to acquire his services this summer.

CHELSEA have signed Portugal winger Ricardo Quaresma from Inter Milan on a loan deal for the rest of the season.

THE final hours of the January transfer window made an inevitably frenetic start yesterday, as Premier League clubs tried desperately to bulk out their squads ahead of today's 5pm deadline.

WHATEVER horrors Robbie Keane is experiencing at Liverpool, the Republic of Ireland captain might still consider them preferable to the traumas being endured by Tottenham.

Bolton manager Gary Megson today admitted he knew little about captain Kevin Nolan’s impending move to Barclays Premier League rivals Newcastle.

Bolton manager Gary Megson has confirmed the club have opened talks with Sporting Lisbon about the possibility of signing defensive midfielder Miguel Veloso.

Barcelona 3 Sporting Lisbon 1

Owen Garvan produced a man-of-the-match performance to score twice for the Republic of Ireland U-21s to earn a draw against Portugal in Madeira.

ARSENE WENGER has no intention of going public and “destabilising” players like Real Madrid have done with Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo as he continues his search for fresh faces to add to the Arsenal squad.

Arsenal have entered the race to sign Sporting Lisbon midfielder Miguel Veloso, according to the player’s agent.

Wigan boss Steve Bruce has warned old friend Alex Ferguson he has no intention of selling two of his top stars – but appreciates the lure of Manchester United is irresistible.

Sporting Lisbon 0 Rangers 2 (Aggregate score: 0-2)

Bolton 1 Sporting Lisbon 1

Manchester United assistant boss Carlos Queiroz has vowed to defend himself against any formal accusation that he has unsettled Sporting Lisbon midfielder Miguel Veloso.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Nemanja Vidic return for Manchester United tonight as they seek to clinch top spot in Champions League Group F.

Republic of Ireland Under-21 boss Don Givens was disappointed with the performance his side gave in their 2-0 home defeat by Portugal.

Republic of Ireland U21 0 Portugal U21 2

REPUBLIC of Ireland U-21 manager Don Givens has told his players they could be just one game away from a senior call-up if they put on a show against Portugal in their opening European Championship qualifier at Turner’s Cross tomorrow night (ko 7.30pm).

Republic of Ireland Under-21s captured the Madeira Invitational Tournament for the second time in two years with a deserved 2-1 victory over Portugal in Machico.