11 October,2011 08:08 AM IST | | PA Sport
Portugal skipper Cristiano Ronaldo confident of beating Denmark at home tonight and qualify for Euro 2012
Winning is all that counts for Portugal when they take on Denmark in Copenhagen tonight, according to Cristiano Ronaldo. The Real Madrid forward will lead his men out at the Parken Stadion knowing a draw will be enough to take them to Poland and Ukraine for next summer's European Championships.
Super striker: Portugal skipper Cristiano Ronaldo. Pic/Getty
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Paulo Bento's side currently lead Group H on goal difference from the Danes, with tonight's contest effectively a winner-takes-all showdown. The draw falls on Portugal's side, though, while Norway, three points shy of the duo, could make things more complex should they inflict a heavy defeat on Cyprus.
But Ronaldo is looking to take the maths out of the equation and do the simplest thing to earn a place in the championshipsu00a0-- get a win. "Portugal are going to Denmark to win the game, that's our thinking," he told Spanish newspaper AS.
"We know there are conditions but we want to win the tie for direct entry (to Euro 2012). That is always the mentality of the team and I am sure we will make it a good match." Ronaldo did not score any of Portugal's five goals as they beat Iceland 5-3 on Fridayu00a0-- his next will put him clear as his country's fourth leading scorer of all-timeu00a0-- proving their attack is working well heading to Denmark.
Their defence is not polished at the moment, though, and Ronaldo believes the absence of club teammates Pepe and Fabio Coentrao is a contributing factor, as well as the self-imposed exile of Ricardo Carvalho. "We very much need Pepe," the 26-year-old added. "But those who are here now are the most important. We can talk about Pepe, but Ricardo Carvalho did not come to Portugal."
