Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo: 'Last-16 spot almost impossible'

Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo has declared that his team is unlikely to qualify for the last 16 of the World Cup ahead of their final group match against Ghana.

Paulo Bento's side must inflict a heavy defeat on the African nation and hope that Germany beat the USA by a similar scoreline to stand any chance of progression.

"We've all given our best," The Mirror quotes the Real Madrid man as saying. "It's virtually impossible now, but this is football.

"Obviously we wanted to win [against the USA] but we couldn't quite manage it. It's the players on the pitch who play and who suffer. They all deserve a pat on the back."

Portugal have just one point on the board following a defeat to Germany and a draw with the USA.