Portugal Face Play-Offs

Cristiano Ronaldo will be hoping to be back in action ahead of Portugal's las-gasp attempt to make the World Cup Finals.

Whilst Lionel Messi and his Argentine counterparts made it into the Finals bythe skin of their teeth, Cristiano et al will need to win a two-legged playoff to secure their passage to South Africa 2010.

A convincing win at home to Malta, inspired by former Manchester United team-mate Nani, saw Portugal skip ahead of Sweden in the league, and earn the crucial second spot, just about saving their campaign after a disatrous start - they didn't win in their first five games.

Portugal will be a seeded team, so will face one of Ireland, Slovenia, Bosnia or Ukraine on Saturday 14th November.