The 27-year-old Real Madrid playmaker - who is yet to win top honours on the international stage - told uefa.com the Portuguese respected the Germans but they felt that they could cause an upset and quell fears back at home of an early exit.

"I don't like using that term 'revenge' in football, because it's simply a football match, it isn't a war," said Ronaldo, who first shone on the international stage as part of the side that lost to Greece in the Euro 2004 final.