Cristiano: Too soon to talk about future

CRISTIANO RONALDO gave no hint that he is about to retire from international football despite seeing his Portugal side knocked out of the World Cup by Uruguay.

Ronaldo is still waiting for his first goal or first assist in a World Cup knockout game after Portugal were beaten 2-1 by an Edinson Cavani-inspired Uruguay in the last 16 here.

The Real Madrid striker would be 37 at the next World Cup in Qatar in 2022, but refused to consider his future as he left Sochi’s Fisht Stadium.

‘It’s not the right time to talk about my future, or about the coach or any of the players,’ he said. ‘I’m absolutely sure this team will continue to be one of the the best in the world.

‘We have a team of players who are ambitious. Portugal are going to carry on winning things and making people proud.’

That doesn’t sound like a player who is ready to give up on what has been a lifelong World Cup dream and Ronaldo insisted he has enjoyed this tournament despite the outcome.

‘We played better than Uruguay but it’s those who score more goals who win,’ he said. ‘We wanted to win, we fought well, but Uruguay should be congratulated.

‘We leave with our heads held high. This is a fantastic group to work with. I’m proud of my team-mates, of the technical staff.’

Portugal manager Fernando Santos is adamant his captain will continue to make himself available. When asked if Ronaldo still will be in action at Euro 2020 and the World Cup two years later, Santos said: ‘Certainly, yes. Cristiano has a lot to give.

‘We start the next tournament in September and we hope he will be with us to help the young ones grow. It’s important to have a captain there and he’s always there for us.”

Uruguay’s main concern as they prepare for a quarter-final against France is the fitness Cavani, who limped off after scoring his second goal in the second half.

‘It’s a very proud night,’ said the Paris Saint-Germain striker, who was helped off the pitch by rival Ronaldo. ‘But I felt my leg and couldn’t continue.’

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez admitted there is concern in the camp as they wait for medical results.

‘Every five days here we have a match and we don’t have a lot of time for recovery,’ said Tabarez. ‘But after a rest day we will have a diagnosis. Now we are worried but we don’t know how grave the injury is.’

For Tabarez, thoughts are aleady turning to Friday’s match in Nizhny Novgorod.

‘France have a very strong point and that is their two strikers, Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann,’ he said. ‘They have incredible speed and as soon as they get a chance they are dangerous.

‘It will be very difficult for us but we will play to our strengths. We’re here to play all seven matches up to the final.’