Cristiano Ronaldo to be ready for Germany, says William Carvalho
Portugal midfielder William Carvalho has claimed skipper Cristiano Ronaldo is fully fit and will be ready for action for the team’s opening group match against the mighty Germans, the pre-World Cup favorites, adding that he is the best player in the world by quite a distance.
The Real Madrid winger was seen hobbling off from training with an ice pack heavily strapped on his troublesome knee on Thursday, barely a few days before Portugal’s World Cup Group G opener on Monday.
However, according the Angola born midfielder Carvalho, who was speaking at Portugal’s training base outside Sao Paulo the national skipper is one hundred percent fit and ready to take the Germans on.
The Portuguese skipper featured for 65 minutes during the team’s last friendly before the World Cup before being withdrawn and showed why he is considered as one of the greatest players of his generation.
Cristiano Ronaldo had missed the team’s two previous friendly matches as the team sweated over his fitness.
Carvalho added that it was more a matter for the doctors and the medical team to assess his fitness but there is no doubt that he is a very important player for the team apart from being the captain.
The Sporting Lisbon midfielder also added that Ronaldo was suffering from fatigue as training for the World Cup began after going through a long season with Real Madrid.
Cristiano Ronaldo, who won the FIFA Ballon d’Or in January, has enjoyed a brilliant season for both club and country; leading Real Madrid to their tenth European crown as well as the Copa del Rey apart from singlehandedly helping the team beat Sweden in the World Cup playoffs with four goals.
Portugal have been drawn against Ghana, Germany and the United States of America in Group G in Brazil.