MANAUS, June 23 — World player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo leads a makeshift Portugal side for their second World Cup finals Group G game against the United States in Manaus today.
Defeat for the Portuguese will mean them going out in the group stage while victory for the United States would see them qualify for the second round.
Ronaldo, who has looked far from fit and was not at his best in the opening 4-0 defeat by Germany, captains a side which is lacking central defender Pepe, suspended after a red card in the opening game, while Hugo Almeida, goalkeeper Rui Patricio and Fabio Coentrao are all injured.
Beto replaces Rui Patricio, whose performance against the Germans would probably have placed question marks over his continuing in goal even if he had been fit.
Veteran central defender Bruno Alves did give Portuguese coach Paulo Bento some relief in being passed fit for the game which will see the Portuguese eliminated if they lose.
United States coach Jurgen Klinsmann made only one change to the XI that began the stunning 2-1 win over Ghana as Jozy Altidore is injured.
There was also no place for their goalscoring hero central defender John Brooks, who has to be content once again with a place on the substitutes bench.
United States
Tim Howard - Fabian Johnson, Geoff Cameron, Matt Besler, DaMarcus Beasley - Jermaine Jones, Kyle Beckerman - Graham Zusi, Michael Bradley, Alejandro Bedoya - Clint Dempsey (capt)
Coach: Jurgen Klinsmann (GER)
Portugal
Beto - Joao Pereira, Ricardo Costa, Bruno Alves, Andre Almeida - Joao Moutinho, Miguel Veloso, Raul Meireles - Nani, Helder Postiga, Cristiano Ronaldo (cap)
Coach: Paulo Bento (POR)
Referee:
Nestor Pitana (ARG). — AFP
