Ronaldo denied by woodwork

CRISTIANO RONALDO cut a frustrated figure after being denied by the woodwork and picking up a booking in Portugal’s scoreless draw against the Ivory Coast yesterday.

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.”

Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz questioned the decision to allow Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba to play against Portugal wearing a protective cast on his broken arm.

The striker played the final 24 minutes yesterday’s match just 10 days after fracturing his ulna in a warm-up game.

Ivory Coast officials sought and were granted permission from FIFA for Drogba to play wearing the dressing, but while Queiroz said 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 unusual.

“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.

The striker said: “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.”

In a game of few clearcut chances yesterday, Ivory Coast gave as good as they got, although without troubling Portugal keeper Eduardo unduly.

But there was little doubt that the Africans and their manager, former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson, were the happier after a positive start to their World Cup adventure.

Eriksson said: “There weren’t many occasions to score, you saw two teams which didn’t want to lose. I thought if one team had won it should have been us, we created more chances than Portugal.

“I was very happy with our discipline and organisation, we were organised for 90 minutes, in the past it wasn’t like that.

“They have a very good team and a lot of very good footballers, but I think we handled it very well. Another plus was Didier coming on to play. He’ll be even fitter for the next game.’’

IVORY COAST: Barry, Demel, Toure, Zokora, Tiene, Eboue (Romaric 88), Toure Yaya, Tiote, Gervinho (Keita 82), Dindane, Kalou (Drogba 65).

PORTUGAL: Eduardo, Ferreira, Bruno Alves, Carvalho, Fabio Coentrao, Deco (Tiago 62), Mendes, Raul Meireles (Ruben Amorim 85), Ronaldo, Liedson, Danny (Simao 55).

Referee: Jorge Larrionda (Uruguay).