<p>A wounded Portugal, still smarting from a 4-0 defeat by Germany, are fervently hoping that talismanic forward Cristiano Ronaldo is fit when they take on the United States in their second World Cup Group G game on Sunday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The thrashing was the biggest ever loss the Portuguese have suffered at a World Cup and their misery deepened as central defender Pepe was sent off while Ronaldo struggled for form as he battled a knee injury.<br /><br />The World Player of the Year will need to be back to his best for the clash with the Americans, who surprisingly beat Ghana 2-1 in their opening game.<br /><br />Rumours about Ronaldo’s condition have been swirling across the internet and officials were forced to deny reports that his personal doctor had advised him to quit the tournament.<br /><br />A few days’ rest seems to have helped and his team-mate Miguel Veloso said the player appeared to be in good shape. “I'm not a doctor but from what I see, Ronaldo is fine,” Veloso told reporters after a training session in Campinas.<br /><br />“He is training, he is jumping and he is shooting. There is not much else to say.”<br />Ronaldo, who was suffering from tendinosis in his left knee several weeks before the 32-nation tournament, was photographed walking out of Wednesday's training session early with an ice pack on his left knee.<br /><br />Also of concern to coach Paolo Bento is the need to find the right replacements for the suspended Pepe and injured left-back Fabio Coentrao whose involvement in the tournament is over.<br /><br />Goalkeeper Rui Patricio and striker Hugo Almeida were also nursing knocks but have been ruled fit to play, although the latter could be dropped for Helder Postiga after a lacklustre performance against Germany.<br /><br />The United States will hope to reproduce the inspired display from the 2002 World Cup when they beat Portugal 3-2 in the group stage, a win which helped them advance to the last 16 at the expense of their rivals.<br /><br />Coach Juergen Klinsmann, who was in charge of his native Germany when they beat Portugal 3-1 in the 2006 tournament's third-place match, said he expected Ronaldo to fire on all cylinders in the hot and humid city of Manaus.<br /><br />Klinsmann also hopes that his walking wounded recover, in particular Clint Dempsey who broke his nose after taking a boot to the face against Ghana shortly after scoring inside a minute.<br /><br />“Now (Portugal) are going to come into Manaus pretty angry and I don't know how Ronaldo is going to perform when he is angry. We need to show Portugal how good we are,” he said.<br /><br />Klinsmann might ponder whether to start John Brooks, who scored the winner against the Ghanaians on his World Cup debut after coming on as a substitute for Matt Besler, while striker Aron Johansson is set to replace the injured Jozy Altidore.<br /><br />“You have got to deal with injuries,” the 49-year old former international striker said. “It will happen more often in this World Cup. Players need to be ready.”<br /></p>
<p>A wounded Portugal, still smarting from a 4-0 defeat by Germany, are fervently hoping that talismanic forward Cristiano Ronaldo is fit when they take on the United States in their second World Cup Group G game on Sunday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The thrashing was the biggest ever loss the Portuguese have suffered at a World Cup and their misery deepened as central defender Pepe was sent off while Ronaldo struggled for form as he battled a knee injury.<br /><br />The World Player of the Year will need to be back to his best for the clash with the Americans, who surprisingly beat Ghana 2-1 in their opening game.<br /><br />Rumours about Ronaldo’s condition have been swirling across the internet and officials were forced to deny reports that his personal doctor had advised him to quit the tournament.<br /><br />A few days’ rest seems to have helped and his team-mate Miguel Veloso said the player appeared to be in good shape. “I'm not a doctor but from what I see, Ronaldo is fine,” Veloso told reporters after a training session in Campinas.<br /><br />“He is training, he is jumping and he is shooting. There is not much else to say.”<br />Ronaldo, who was suffering from tendinosis in his left knee several weeks before the 32-nation tournament, was photographed walking out of Wednesday's training session early with an ice pack on his left knee.<br /><br />Also of concern to coach Paolo Bento is the need to find the right replacements for the suspended Pepe and injured left-back Fabio Coentrao whose involvement in the tournament is over.<br /><br />Goalkeeper Rui Patricio and striker Hugo Almeida were also nursing knocks but have been ruled fit to play, although the latter could be dropped for Helder Postiga after a lacklustre performance against Germany.<br /><br />The United States will hope to reproduce the inspired display from the 2002 World Cup when they beat Portugal 3-2 in the group stage, a win which helped them advance to the last 16 at the expense of their rivals.<br /><br />Coach Juergen Klinsmann, who was in charge of his native Germany when they beat Portugal 3-1 in the 2006 tournament's third-place match, said he expected Ronaldo to fire on all cylinders in the hot and humid city of Manaus.<br /><br />Klinsmann also hopes that his walking wounded recover, in particular Clint Dempsey who broke his nose after taking a boot to the face against Ghana shortly after scoring inside a minute.<br /><br />“Now (Portugal) are going to come into Manaus pretty angry and I don't know how Ronaldo is going to perform when he is angry. We need to show Portugal how good we are,” he said.<br /><br />Klinsmann might ponder whether to start John Brooks, who scored the winner against the Ghanaians on his World Cup debut after coming on as a substitute for Matt Besler, while striker Aron Johansson is set to replace the injured Jozy Altidore.<br /><br />“You have got to deal with injuries,” the 49-year old former international striker said. “It will happen more often in this World Cup. Players need to be ready.”<br /></p>